Age of Enlightenment
Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains.
- Rousseau
Introduction to The
Enlightenment
Enlightenment-A change in outlook among many educated
Europeans that began during the 1600s.
This was a time when reason was a key part of progress.
They used observation and logic to understand the world
instead of errors and superstitions? Of the past.
In France these thinkers were known as philosophes
French for Philosophers.
These thinkers gathered in informal meeting places
called salons.
Enlightenments form of thinking
grew out of the Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution
Main Idea
New ways of thinking led to remarkable discoveries during the Scientific
Revolution.
The Old View
• Scholars relied on traditional
authorities for beliefs about
structure of universe
• Geocentric theory, Aristotle
– Earth center of universe
– Sun, moon, planets revolved
around sun
• Ideas upheld by church,
accepted authority for
European intellectuals
New Viewpoints
• Scholars began to challenge
traditional authorities, 1500s
• Scientific Revolution, new
way of thinking
• Posed theories, developed
procedures to test ideas
• Why open to new ideas?
– Exploration
– New lands, new people, new
animals
The Scientific Method
New Approach to Investigation
• Scientific Method
• Identify problem
• Form hypothesis
• Perform experiments to test
hypothesis
• Record results
• Analyze results, form
conclusion
Scientific Method Scholars
• Francis Bacon, experimentation
to gain scientific knowledge
• Rene Descartes, reason key
• Believed everything should be
doubted until proved by reason
• Relied on math, logic
• Ideas of both continue to
influence modern scientific
methods
Science and Society
As science assumed greater significance, the question of the role of the Roman
Catholic Church in a changing culture became important. While the church
opposed the views of many scientists, it benefited from new discoveries that
made Renaissance art and architecture possible.
Science and the Church
• Church most powerful institution
in Europe, Middle Ages
• Primary resource for knowledge,
learning
• Cathedral schools, universities
trained people to run the church
Conflicts
• Most scientists did not want to
challenge role of Christianity
• Church explained world through
inspiration, revealed truth
• Science explained world through
logical reasoning
The church feared reason as an enemy of faith, but eventually began to embrace
some of the achievements of the Scientific Revolution.
The Enlightenment
Main Idea
European thinkers developed new ideas
about government and society during the
Enlightenment.
Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about
power of reason
• Scientific method and reason led to discoveries about
physical world
• Wondered if reason could be used to study human nature,
society
– New generation of philosophers, 1600s
– Viewed reason as best way to understand truth
– Concluded reason could be used to solve all human
problems
– This time of optimism now called the Enlightenment
The Age of Reason
Ideas of Enlightenment
• Educated people
throughout Europe,
beyond, inspired
• Held notion that world
problems could be solved
• New ideas debated in
coffeehouses, public
spaces
• Writers published ideas in
books, magazines,
pamphlets
Peak of Enlightenment
• Reached peak in 1700s
• Paris, center of intellectual
activity
• Parisian women hosted
social gatherings, salons
• Philosophers, artists,
scientists, writers regularly
discussed ideas
Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Challenged Beliefs
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Writers, philosophers questioned ideas long held as absolute truth
Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies
Questioned relationship between church and sate
Debated rules and rights of people in society
Promoted ideas reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change
society
Reforms
Revolutions
• Belief in progress spurred many to
enact reforms
• Ideas about power, authority
inspired reforms and revolutions
• Believed reason could solve any
problem, debated ways to make
society more just
• Did not accept poverty, ignorance,
inequality as facts of life
• American colonists inspired to
break free from British monarchy
• Colonists strongly influenced by
political views of Locke, Rousseau