Chapter 17

Enlightenment challenge to tradition

The Enlightenment contested established societal norms by promoting rationalism and opposing absolutism through the principles of natural law and natural rights.

Role of salons

Salons were social gatherings where intellectuals, including women, engaged in discussions that disseminated and popularized Enlightenment ideas.

Madame Geoffrin's influence

Madame Geoffrin was a pivotal salon host in Paris, connecting prominent philosophers and artists to explore and debate key Enlightenment themes.

Adam Smith's economic significance

Adam Smith's advocacy for free trade and market economies fundamentally challenged mercantilist principles and shaped modern economic thought.

Enlightened despotism

A form of governance where a monarch wields absolute power yet governs for the welfare of the populace, influenced by Enlightenment ideals.

Diderot's Encyclopedia

Denis Diderot edited the Encyclopedia, a critical resource compiling knowledge that promoted science, philosophy, and Enlightenment thought.

Rousseau's social contract

Rousseau's philosophy emphasized the social contract, advocating for the general will—a collective agreement prioritizing individual freedom.

Art and the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment influenced the arts, leading to a transition from emotionally charged Baroque styles to Neoclassical art focused on reason and morality.

Scientific Revolution's role

The Scientific Revolution provided a foundational framework for Enlightenment thinkers to employ rational inquiry in various fields, including politics and economics.

Women in the Enlightenment

During the Enlightenment, women engaged in intellectual discourse through salons, although their societal roles and rights remained restricted.

Optimism of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was seen as a period of optimism, where reason, science, and humanism opened new possibilities for societal progress and reform.

Voltaire and religious critique

Voltaire employed satire to challenge religious intolerance, advocating for freedom of thought and promoting civil liberties.

Locke's natural rights

John Locke articulated that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property that governments must not infringe upon.

Artistic transition

The shift from the grandeur of Baroque to the rationality of Neoclassicism in art reflects Enlightenment values of clarity and moral purpose.

Impact of travel literature

Travel literature introduced Europeans to diverse cultures, fostering cultural relativism and skepticism regarding established beliefs.

Philosophes defined

Philosophes were Enlightenment intellectuals who sought to apply reason and scientific methods to all aspects of human life.

Education's importance

The Enlightenment emphasized education as crucial for fostering rational thought and civic responsibility, advocating for broader access to knowledge.

Cultural relativism explained

Cultural relativism posits that beliefs and practices should be understood within the context of one's own culture rather than judged from an outside perspective.

Enlightenment and political revolutions

Enlightenment ideas about liberty, equality, and justice spurred revolutionary movements in America and France, leading to major political changes.

Rousseau on the social contract

Rousseau viewed the social contract as an agreement among individuals to form a society prioritizing the general will, integrating personal freedom with community responsibility.

Shifting women's rights

Despite limited advancements, Enlightenment discussions on equality inspired thinkers like Wollstonecraft to advocate for women's education and rights.

Laissez-faire economics

Laissez-faire economics is the belief that markets operate best without government interference, a concept championed by Adam Smith.

Legacy of Enlightenment democracy

The Enlightenment established foundational democratic principles, including individual rights, separation of powers, and civic participation.

Religion and Enlightenment thought

Enlightenment thinkers critiqued organized religion, advocating for tolerance, separation of church and state, and the application of reason over dogma.

Cultural impact of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment fostered cultural exchanges that shaped a shared intellectual identity, promoting progress, creativity, and the validation of diverse ideas.

Women's involvement in salons

Women actively advanced Enlightenment ideas by hosting salons, which served as crucial venues for discussing philosophical and political concepts.

Significant figures in women's rights

Key advocates for women's rights during the Enlightenment included Mary Wollstonecraft, who fought for educational opportunities, and Olympe de Gouges, promoting gender equality.