Untitled Flashcards Set

Salonnières

Women who hosted intellectual salons in 17th-18th century France, where philosophers, writers, and artists gathered to discuss ideas and debate.

The Blue Stocking Society

A group of intellectual women in 18th-century England who promoted women's education and cultural activities, often associated with the Enlightenment.

Café Procope

A famous Parisian café in the 17th and 18th centuries, frequented by Enlightenment philosophers and intellectuals like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot.

Masonic Lodges

Local chapters of the Freemasons, a fraternal organization that promotes moral and ethical behavior, charity, and fellowship.

Latitudinarianism

A theological stance that advocates for religious tolerance and flexibility in doctrine, allowing diverse Christian beliefs to coexist.

A Letter Concerning Toleration

A 1689 work by John Locke advocating for religious tolerance and the separation of church and state.

The Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree by King Henry IV of France granting religious tolerance to French Protestants (Huguenots) and ending religious wars.

The Edict of Fontainebleau

A 1685 decree by King Louis XIV of France revoking the Edict of Nantes, leading to the persecution of Huguenots.

The Act of Toleration

A 1689 British law granting religious freedom to non-Anglican Protestants, except Catholics.

Pierre Bayle

A French philosopher and historian known for his skeptical views and work Historical and Critical Dictionary, which questioned religious dogma.

A Philosophical Commentary on These Words ‘Compel Them to Come In’

A work by Pierre Bayle discussing the limits of religious coercion and the interpretation of biblical passages advocating tolerance.

The Historical and Critical Dictionary

A work by Pierre Bayle that critiques religious and philosophical ideas, advocating for skepticism and rational inquiry.

The Gordon Riots

Violent protests in London (1780) led by Lord George Gordon, largely in opposition to the government’s decision to grant more rights to Catholics.

The Calas Affair

A 1762 case in France where Jean Calas was wrongfully executed for allegedly killing his son to prevent him from converting to Catholicism, leading to debates on religious intolerance.

A Treatise on Tolerance

A work by Voltaire defending religious tolerance, particularly after the Calas Affair.

“Ecrasez l’infâme”

A phrase by Voltaire meaning 'Crush the infamous [one],' referring to the Catholic Church and religious intolerance.

General Providence

The belief in a divine, overarching plan governing the universe and human affairs.

Particular Providence

The belief in God’s active involvement in individual lives and specific events.

The Religious Ceremonies of the World

A work by Bernard Picart, illustrating the diversity of religious practices across the globe.

The Age of Reason

A period in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, science, and secular thought over superstition and religious dogma.

Deism

A philosophical belief in a rational, non-interventionist creator who does not engage in miracles or answer prayers.

Pantheism

The belief that God and the universe are identical, with God being present in all things.

Jansenism

A Catholic theological movement emphasizing original sin, divine grace, and predestination, often in opposition to Jesuit teachings.

Quietism

A mystical Christian movement advocating for passive devotion and surrender to God's will, emphasizing inner peace over active religious practice.

Pietism

A Christian movement emphasizing personal devotion, piety, and emotional experience over formal doctrine and ritual.

Atheism

The lack of belief in the existence of gods or a divine being.

The Religious Society of Friends

Also known as Quakers, a Christian group focused on pacifism, equality, and simplicity.

The Treatise of the Three Impostors

A controversial 18th-century work, attributed to various authors, attacking religion and promoting secularism.

Baruch Spinoza

A Dutch philosopher known for his pantheistic views and work Ethics, which challenged traditional religious and philosophical concepts.

Theodicy

The theological attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the belief in an all-powerful, benevolent God.

Jean Meslier

A French priest and philosopher known for his posthumous work Testament, which criticized religion and advocated for atheism.

Julien Offray de La Mettrie

A French physician and philosopher, famous for his materialist work Man a Machine, which proposed that humans are essentially complex machines.

Man a Machine

A 1748 work by La Mettrie, arguing that humans are purely physical beings with no immaterial soul, thus denying spiritual explanations for behavior.

Baron d’Holbach

A French philosopher and prominent atheist, author of The System of Nature, which argued for a materialistic view of the universe.

The System of Nature

A 1770 work by Baron d’Holbach that presents a materialist and atheistic worldview, denying the need for a creator.

Natural Law

A philosophy asserting that certain moral laws are inherent in nature and can be understood through reason, independent of religious or governmental authority.

Thomas Hobbes

An English philosopher, best known for his work Leviathan, which argued for a strong, centralized government to avoid anarchy.

Leviathan

A 1651 work by Thomas Hobbes that argues for a powerful, absolute sovereign to maintain peace and prevent the chaos of the 'state of nature.'

“Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

A famous description by Hobbes of life in the state of nature, without a strong governing authority.

“Life, liberty, and property”

A phrase coined by John Locke, emphasizing fundamental natural rights that should be protected by government.

Montesquieu

A French political philosopher best known for his work The Spirit of the Laws, advocating for the separation of powers in government.

The Persian Letters

A 1721 satirical work by Montesquieu, presenting the views of two Persian travelers critiquing European society.

The Spirit of the Laws

A 1748 work by Montesquieu, which discusses the separation of powers and the importance of law in maintaining liberty.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A Swiss-French philosopher known for his works The Social Contract and Discourse on Inequality, advocating for democratic governance and social equality.

The General Will

Rousseau’s concept in The Social Contract, referring to the collective will of the people, which should guide the government.

The Social Contract

A 1762 work by Rousseau, arguing that legitimate political authority arises from an agreement among citizens to form a society based on the common good.

The Discourse on the Arts and Sciences

A 1750 work by Rousseau, criticizing the impact of the arts and sciences on morality and human happiness.

Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men

A 1755 work by Rousseau that explores how social inequality emerged and critiqued the development of modern civilization.

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

A famous quote from Rousseau's The Social Contract, reflecting his belief in the natural freedom of humans versus the constraints of society.

David Hume

A Scottish philosopher known for his skepticism about religion and his work A Treatise of Human Nature, exploring human psychology and empiricism.

“Of the Original Contract”

A work by David Hume, critiquing the idea of a social contract as the basis of political authority.

A Treatise of Human Nature

A 1739-40 work by David Hume that discusses human understanding, emotions, and ethics from an empiricist perspective.

Adam Smith

A Scottish economist and philosopher, best known for The Wealth of Nations, which laid the foundations for modern economics and the study of capitalism.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments

A 1759 work by Adam Smith, focusing on human sympathy and ethics as the foundation for moral judgments.

Thomas Reid

A Scottish philosopher, known for his development of Common Sense Philosophy, which emphasized everyday human experience and perception.

Claude-Adrien Hélvetius

A French philosopher who argued for the influence of education and environment on human behavior, focusing on utility and self-interest.

Étienne Bonnot de Condillac

A French philosopher who emphasized the importance of sensory experience in human knowledge and promoted empiricism.

Bernard Mandeville

A Dutch philosopher and satirist, known for his work The Fable of the Bees, which argued that private vices could lead to public benefits.

The Fable of the Bees

A 1714 work by Bernard Mandeville, arguing that personal vices like greed and selfishness could contribute to societal wealth and prosperity.

Francis Hutcheson

A Scottish philosopher known for his work on moral philosophy and the theory of sentiment, emphasizing benevolence and social harmony.

The Physiocrats

A group of 18th-century French economists who believed that land and agriculture were the primary sources of wealth and advocated for minimal government interference in the economy.

François Quesnay

A leading figure of the Physiocrats, known for creating the Tableau Économique, a model of economic flow based on agricultural productivity.

The Tableau Economique

A model created by François Quesnay, illustrating how economic activity flows in a society, emphasizing the role of agriculture.

Anne Robert Jacques Turgot

A French economist and statesman who promoted economic liberalism and reforms, advocating for free trade and reduced government interference.

Laissez faire

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in the marketplace and allowing businesses to operate freely.

The Wealth of Nations

A seminal 1776 work by Adam Smith, outlining the principles of free-market capitalism and the division of labor.

Guillaume-Thomas Raynal

A French historian and economist known for The History of the Two Indies, which critiqued European colonialism and slavery.

The History of the Two Indies

A 1770 work by Raynal, criticizing European colonial exploitation and advocating for the abolition of slavery.

Supplement to the Voyage of Bougainville

A 1772 work by Diderot, offering a critique of European civilization through a fictional dialogue between two Tahitian men.