Studied by 6 people
The Enlightenment
Inductive Reasoning
Many observations lead to generalization
Deductive Reasoning
Generalizations lead to specific conclusions
Francis Bacon
Created the scientific method
Rene Descartes
French philosopher
Isaac Newton
Developed the law of universal gravitation
Astronomy
Study of the arrangement of the stars
Cosmology
Branch of astronomy concerned with the origins and structure of the universe
Nicolaus Copernicus
Developed the heliocentric model, clashed with the beliefs of Aristotle and Ptolemy
Johannes Kepler
Discovered orbit to be elliptical
Galileo Galilei
First European to build and use a telescope, proved that planets were non-ethereal
Galen
Father of anatomy and physiology during medieval Europe
Andreas Vesalius
Wrote “On the Fabric of the Human Body”, studied anatomy
William Harvey
Fixed Galen’s ideas on the circulatory system, found that the circulatory system started with the heart
Rationalism
Focused on the innate reason why people know what they know
Empiricism
The idea that all human knowledge is acquired through the human senses
Thomas Hobbes
Wrote “Leviathan”, argued that in a state of nature, humans would pursue their own survival and self-interest
John Locke
Believed all humans were born with natural rights given by the Creator, believed in the Social Contract, argued that humans were naturally blank slates and are only motivated by self-interest
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Wrote “The Social Contract”, sexist
Mary Wollstonecraft
Wrote “A Vindication of the rights of Women”, believed women could be equal if they were given equal access to opportunities
Voltaire
Advocated for religious tolerance, hated the Catholic Church, exiled from Paris and moved to England
Denis Diderot
Made the Encyclopedia
Montesquieu
Believed the best system of government was the judicial, executive, and legislative branches
Cesare Beccaria
Father of the criminal justice system, brought scientific reasoning into the criminal justice field, wrote “On Crimes and Punishments” which called for an end to the use of torture
Salons/Coffeehouses
People bought coffee, read newspapers, and shared ideas regarding philosophy
Academies
Specialized groups to investigate knowledge
Baron d’Holbach
Atheist, thought God was the creation of human ignorance and fear
Skepticism
Asserts that all ideas and beliefs should be approached with doubtD
David Hume
Skeptic, argued against miracles, disputed the idea of an afterlife, believed that religion corrupts rather than contributes to morality
Methodism
Movement which focuses on a personal experience with God, stresses charitable works
John Wesley
Led the Methodist Movement
Pietism
Belief that moral behavior was the key to salvation emphasized the importance of the Bible
Laissez-faire
The government stays uninvolved
Thomas Malthus
Concerned with population growth
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Introduced Britain to the smallpox inoculation
Maria Theresa
Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, first European monarch to mandate schooling
Consumer Revolution
People began buying goods for leisure, ornament, etc.
Jane Austen
Influential author
Rocco
Secular, exuberant, light, hedonistic art style
Neoclassism
Secular art style which upheld ideas of simplicity and symmetry
Augustan Age
Era of neoclassical literature, imitate Roman writers Horace and Virgil
King Frederick II of Prussia
Enlightened monarch, believed a king’s duty was to protect and serve the people, started the Prussian Common Law
Joseph II
Enlightened monarch, believed in religious toleration, limited the power of the Church, enabled freedom of the press
