Unit 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments

Humanism

Humanism

Emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, stresses the importance of reason and critical thinking, and rejects supernatural explanations.

Individualism

Emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy and self-reliance, values personal achievement and self-expression, and rejects conformity and groupthink.

Intellectualism

Emphasizes the importance of knowledge and education, values critical thinking and rational inquiry.

Enlightenment

A philosophical movement that emerged in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a focus on reason, science, and individualism, and a rejection of traditional authority and dogma.

Reason

The key to understanding the world and solving its problems, emphasized by Enlightenment thinkers. They believed in empirical evidence and scientific inquiry.

Individualism

The importance of individual rights and freedoms, emphasized by Enlightenment thinkers. They believed individuals should be free to pursue their own interests and make their own choices.

Progress

The belief that society could be improved through reason and scientific progress, held by Enlightenment thinkers. They believed humans were capable of creating a better world through their own efforts.

Secularism

The rejection of traditional religious authority and emphasis on reason and science over faith, held by Enlightenment thinkers.

John Locke

An English philosopher who emphasized the importance of individual rights and freedoms, and argued that government should be based on the consent of the governed.

Voltaire

A French philosopher who championed freedom of speech and religious tolerance, and criticized the abuses of the Catholic Church and the French monarchy.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A Swiss philosopher who emphasized the importance of individual freedom and the social contract between individuals and society.

Immanuel Kant

A German philosopher who emphasized the importance of reason and the scientific method, and argued that morality should be based on rational principles.

Laws of motion

Three laws proposed by Isaac Newton that describe how objects move and interact with one another.

Scientific method

A systematic approach to scientific inquiry that emphasizes empirical observation and experimentation.

Rationalism

The idea that reason and logic are the best ways to understand the world.

Absolutism

The belief that a monarch has absolute power and authority over their subjects.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that a monarch's authority comes from God.

Mercantilism

The belief that a country's wealth is measured by its accumulation of gold and silver.

Social Contract

The idea that individuals agree to give up some of their natural rights in exchange for protection and security provided by the government.

Natural Rights

The belief that individuals have inherent rights that cannot be taken away by the government. These rights include life, liberty, and property.

Separation of Powers

The idea that government power should be divided among different branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Laissez-Faire Economics

The belief that the government should not interfere with the economy.

Empiricism

Knowledge based on observation and experimentation instead of tradition or authority.

Physiocracy

A new economic theory that emerged in France during the mid-18th century based on the idea that the wealth of a nation was derived from the productivity of its land.

Adam Smith

A Scottish economist who is widely regarded as the father of modern economics and laid out the principles of classical liberalism.

Urbanization

The growth of cities as people moved from rural areas to urban centers in search of work during the Agricultural Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution, conquered much of Europe, implemented the Napoleonic Code, and was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

Maria Theresa of Austria

Archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia, known for her reforms in education, agriculture, and the military, and strengthened the power of the central government and modernized the economy.

Joseph II of Austria

Holy Roman Emperor and co-ruler of Austria with his mother, Maria Theresa, implemented a series of reforms known as Josephinism, abolished serfdom, established religious toleration, and reformed the legal system.

Frederick William I of Prussia

King of Prussia known for his military reforms and expansion of the army, established compulsory education, promoted the growth of industry and agriculture, and known for his frugality and devotion to the military.

Frederick William II of Prussia

King of Prussia during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, attempted to maintain neutrality in the wars but was eventually forced to join the coalition against France.

Andreas Vesalius

Father of modern anatomy, published "De humani corporis fabrica" in 1543.

William Harvey

Discovered blood circulates in a closed system and the heart pumps blood.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Credited with inventing the microscope, observed microorganisms.

Galen

Ancient Greek physician whose ideas were disproven during the Scientific Revolution.

Paracelsus

Emphasized the use of chemicals and minerals to treat diseases.

Royal Society

Founded in 1660, provided a platform for scientists to share ideas and discoveries.

Astronomy

Advancements in astronomy during the Scientific Revolution, including the heliocentric model, discoveries by Galileo, Kepler's laws, and Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Alchemy

A precursor to modern chemistry, sought to transform metals and discover the elixir of life, discredited for its reliance on mystical beliefs.

Mary Wollstonecraft

A British writer and philosopher who is considered to be one of the earliest feminists. In her book "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), she argued that women should have the same rights as men, including the right to education and the right to participate in politics.

Olympe de Gouges

A French playwright and political activist who wrote the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen" (1791). In this document, she argued that women should have the same rights as men, including the right to vote and the right to hold public office.

Deism

It was a religious theory that emerged during the Enlightenment. It held that God created the universe but did not intervene in its workings.

Natural Religion

It was another religious theory that emerged during the Enlightenment. It held that religion should be based on reason and observation of the natural world, rather than on revelation or tradition.

Skepticism

It was a philosophical position that was popular during the Enlightenment. It held that knowledge could not be certain and that all beliefs should be subject to questioning and examination.

Toleration

This idea was a departure from the religious intolerance that had characterized much of European history.

Rococo

style emerged in the early 18th century, characterized by ornate and decorative designs.

Neoclassical style

style that emerged towards the end of the century, inspired by classical Greek and Roman art.