Enlightenment Review

John Locke

Denis Diderot

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Voltaire

David Hume

Marquis di Beccaria

Baron de Montesquieu

Adam Smith

Marco Learning Enlightenment Review

Mary Wollstonecraft

AP Standards for Enlightenment

Salon Culture

An explanation of David Humes Enquiry Concerning Human Nature. Consider how Hume breaks from Enlightenment principles.

Mr. Terry's lecture covering Rousseau and Enlightened despotism.

The video explores the contributions of Enlightenment thinkers Immanuel Kant and Adam Smith, emphasizing Kant's advocacy for independent thought and his development of the categorical imperative, which defines moral actions based on universal applicability. It also highlights Smith's critique of mercantilism and his concept of rational self-interest, suggesting that individuals acting in their own interest can lead to positive societal outcomes through the metaphor of the "invisible hand" in economics.

Spirit of Laws (1748)

Baron de Montesquieu

• Government should have a system of checks and balances to protect individual rights and prevent the creation of an absolutist state.
• Executive, Judicial, Legislative branches
• Preferred style of government: moderate system that provides for checks and balances suchas constitutional monarchy and reuplicanism. (admired the English system)

Dr. Bovkin discusses Denis Diderot, his devleopment of the Encyclopedia, and its effects.

European states and nations developed governmental and civil institutions from 1450 to the present to organize society and consolidate political power, with a variety of social, cultural, and economic effects.

Thematic Focus 1: SOP

AP Standards for Enlightenment

Learning Objective

Explain how different forms of political power were influenced by Enlightenment thought from 1648 to 1815.

Thematic Focus 2: NEI

Definitions and perceptions of regional, cultural, national, and European identity have developed and been challenged over time, with varied and often profound effects on the political, social, and cultural order in Europe.

Learning Objective

Explain how and why political and religious developments challenged or reinforced the idea of a unified Europe from 1648 to 1815.

Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792

Mary Wollstonecraft

Women are not naturally inferior to men but appear so only because they lack the same amount of education. Society could be improved twice as quickly if women were educated to the same extent.

Contributions

• Believed in reason and equality. Women should be treated as rational beings capable of contributing to society.
• Questioned traditional roles of females, advocating for participation in public life.
• Laid foundation for feminist movements.

On Crimes and Punishment (1764)

Marquis di Beccaria

1. Sought to humanize criminal law
2. Only legitimate rationale for punishment = maintain social order and prevent repeat crime.
3. No cruel or unusual punishments
1. Should be based on damage done to society
2. Torture should not be used to obtain confessions
4. Opposed death penalty except for serious crimes (treason).

Effects:

By c.1800, most European nations had abolished torture and the death penalty was reserved for capital crimes.Influenced Voltaire's arguments regarding the Calas case.

This video discusses the political theories of John Locke and their influence on the Enlightenment.

If you are interested in a longer format lecture, Joe Endres' The Story of Voltaire is a great listen

Resources

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Brief summary from Fivable

Paul Sargent's summary of Voltaire

Publications

Letters on the English (1734)Philosophy of Newton (1738)Candide (1759)Treatise on Toleration (1764)

Contributions

• Popularized the Newtonian Worldview
• Freedom of speech
• Religious tolerance (Calas Case, "Ecracsez l'infame")
• Favored enlightened absolutism after spending time in the court of Frederick the Great (Prussia)