Introduction
Overview
Statewide Dual Credit Modern World History: Unit 6, Lesson 1
An introduction to the Enlightenment which was an intellectual and philosophical movement that emphasized reason, science, and individual liberty. Its thinkers challenged traditional authority and advocated for religious tolerance, influencing political developments such as the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions.
The Age of Enlightenment had its origins in the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. A social, political, intellectual and philosophical movement during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Enlightenment wrestled with the tensions inherent between a scientific- driven world and one that placed human endeavors at the center of all things. Whereas the Renaissance placed humanity more at the center of human thinking, the Scientific Revolution challenged many long-standing beliefs and led to the creation of modern evidence- based science. While Enlightenment thought varied in space and time, some central ideas emerged, including the importance of human progress, individual liberty and the value of religious tolerance. The printed word gained significance as books, academic journals, pamphlets, and the highly influential Encyclopédie became more widely distributed and discussed.
The Enlightenment undermined much older modes of thought and political organization. It challenged all absolutes, including the notion that monarchy was divinely ordained or the best form of governance. In response, monarchs, including Catherine the Great of Russia (r. 1762-1796), Frederick the Great of Prussia (r. 1740-1786), and Joseph II of Austria (Holy Roman Emperor from 1765-1790), promised enlightened reforms inspiring a variety of 19th-century political and intellectual movements.
Spotlight On | ENCYCLOPÉDIE
Published between 1751 and 1772, the Encyclopédie, a 28-volume work in the Enlightenment tradition, showcased new approaches to knowledge, government and society. Edited by Denis Diderot and later co-edited with Jean le Rond d’Alembert, the Encyclopédie pushed for the secularization of knowledge and education, placed political power with the people, not traditional powerbrokers, and espoused the notions of natural, inalienable rights while advocating for less state intervention in the economy. The text gained attention for its vast knowledge and willingness to challenge traditional elites and orthodox thinking. Dedicated to disseminating new forms of knowledge, contributors spent considerable time sharing their knowledge and expertise. The largest contributor, Louis de Jaucourt (1704-1779), wrote more than 17,000 articles. While any text based on the work of numerous contributors and more than 70,000 articles will offer multiple perspectives, it is clear that many of the contributors to the Encyclopédie desired a new society based not on tradition but on the Enlightenment values of rational thought and fair and good government.
Much Enlightenment thought concerning religion was in response to the political and religious violence that occurred after the Protestant Reformation. Fought over religious differences and political control of Europe, The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) killed between five to eight million soldiers and civilians. In the face of such devastation, Enlightenment thinkers advocated using reason to achieve religious, social and political peace. For some Enlightenment thinkers, such as the Englishman John Locke (1632-1704), this meant simplifying his faith into the single idea of Jesus as the redeemer and steadfastly avoiding further discussion or debate. Frenchman François-Marie Arouet (1694- 1778), better known as Voltaire, argued that all people, not just fellow Christians, were children of God. Thus, religious conflict was both pointless and detrimental to human development. This encouraged Enlightenment thinkers to call for a reduction in the social and political power of organized religion and to support the notion of the separation of church and state.
Enlightenment thought has had a tremendous impact on theories of government. Many significant figures involved in the American Revolution were closely aligned and influenced by Enlightenment ideas. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are all inspired by Enlightenment thoughts and aspirations. Enlightenment ideals also inspired, influenced and helped engender the French Revolution. As we shall see, the social and political ramifications of the Enlightenment helped direct the development of human history and still impacts much of our thinking about liberty, legal and universal rights and government.