The Enlightenment

2 Pages 382 Words

The Enlightenment, The Age of Reason, was an 18th century intellectual movement based on reason, caused by the scientific revolution, questioned the physical universe and was centered in Paris. The modern Athens believed in natural laws - very secular and more logical than what the church was offering in the way of religion!

Enlightenment thinkers felt that change and reason were both possible and desireable for the sake of human liberty. Enlightenment philosophes provided a major source of ideas that could be used to undermine existing social and political structures. The major themes of the era were: A. rationalism --* logical reasoning based on facts. B. cosmology --* new world view based on Newtonian physics and analysing of natural phenomena as systems. C. scientific method --* experimentation; observation; hypothesis. E. utilitarianism --* laws created for the common good and not for special interests. The Philosophes, not really philosophers, but men who sought to apply reason and common sense to nearly all the major institutions and mores of the day, attacked Christianity for its rejection of science, otherworldliness, and belief in man's depravity.

France became the center for Enlightenment since its decadent absolutism and political and religious censorship seemed to prove the need for reform, ie: Paris salons, Diderot's Encyclopedie, etc. Physiocrats of the Enlightenment period: FRANCOIS QUESNAY --* land is the only source of wealth, and agriculture increases that wealth; therefore, the mercantilists were wrong to put so much importance on the accumulation of money. ADAM SMITH --* Wealth of Nations --* he challenged mercantilist doctrine as selfish and unnatural; the interdependence among nations; "Father of Modern Capitalism". H. Montesquieu --* The Spirit of the Laws -- admired the British government. -- separation of powers in the government. -- checks and balances. I. Rousseau --* The Social Contract -- "Father...