Define Terms for Theory of The Enlightenment Flashcards

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to a whole new world.

According to Immanuel Kant, the "motto" of the Enlightenment was "Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own intelligence!"

The Enlightenment grew largely out of the new methods and discoveries achieved in the Scientific Revolution.

-The scientific method-Observation and experimentation -Testable hypothesis

-Used the scientific method to make a range of discoveries-Newton's achievements using the scientific method helped inspire Enlightenment thinkers

-Religion, tradition, and superstition limited independent thought-Accept knowledge based on observation, logic and reason, not on faith-Scientific and academic thought should be secular

-French mathematician-Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Spirit-Universal education-Progress and "perfectibility"

-French philosopher and mathematician-Questioned the basis of his own knowledge-"Cogito ergo sum"

Madame de Pompadour

A gathering for aristocrats to discuss new theories and ideas.

French Enlightenment thinkers who attended the salons.

-Most famous philosophes-Wrote plays, essays, poetry, philosophy, and books-Attacked the "relics" of the medieval social order-Championed social, political, and religions tolerance

-Major achievement of the philosophes-Begun in 1745; completed in 1765-Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d' Alembert-Banned by the Catholic Church

-Deists believed in God by rejected organized religion-Morality could be achieved by the following reason rather than the teachings of the church-The "great watchmaker"-Thomas Paine

-Applied rational analysis to the study of government-Attacked the concept of divine right, yet supported a strong monarchy-Believed that humans were basically driven by passions and needed to be kept in check by a powerful ruler