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