The Enlightenment: Country Trends


Figure 1.--Sir Issac Newton is seen by the many as the towering figure in the history of science. The Enlightenmnt producuced many great figures in science. Newtonian physics was the played a huge role in crearing our modern age. It is in the Enligtenment that the scientific method conceived by Galilo bgan to make advances that had real technological advances that had economic consequences. The Nwtonian ediface remained unchallenged for two centuries. Only with Einstein did science begin to address the issues which Newton left unanswered. Italian painter Pelagio Palagi (1775-1860) provided this view of Newtib--'Newton Discovers Refraction of Light" (1827) by the

Many of the best known figures of the Enlightenment were French, but the Enlightenment was a movement which over time affected all of Europe to varying degrees. The Enligtenment while affecting all of Europe (excpt the Muslim Ottoman Empire), but was centered in three closely related countries: France, England, and Scotland. It is understandable that Catholic southern Europe (Italy, Spain, and Portugal) dominasted by the Counter Reformation did not participate in the Enlightenment, but it is less clear why the German states did not make a greater contribution. The French Enlightenment thinkers were called the Philosphes. They were not, however, the mos original thinkers, but were skilled publicists of the new ideas and produced some of the most readable texts. England had a major impact of the French Philosphes. It was in England that Issac Newton (1643-1727) helped launch modern science. It must be recalled that the Enlightenment was not just concerned with political ideas, but that natural science also captured their attention. The greatest American figure of the Enlightenment was Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), largely because of his scientific achievements. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) in England addressed the concept of natural law. John Locke (1632-1704) in Scotland was perhaps the greatest political thinker of all time. The American Constitution is Lockian document. These thinkers and the Glorious Revolution (1668-69) stirred the French Philosphes. The ideas now associated with the Enlightenment began to circulate around Europe, but within a narrow range of highly academic thinkers. François-Marie Arouet Voltaire (1694-1778) went to England and wrote letters praising what he observed. Baron Montesquieu (1689-1755) conceived of the separation of powers in government on his largely eronious concepot of the English political system. These individuals and other French thinkers brought the new ideas out of musty academia into the smart Paris salons. Hobbes and Locke were not easy authors to read which limited their readership and impact. The more readable Philosphes throught their breezy works and Paris salon society reached a much wider range of people who began to talk about the new concepts. The French Philosphes, especially Voltaire, Rosseau, and Diderot poppularized the concept of reason above all, but also the concepts toleration and natural law. They helped build a confidence in modern man and his achievements. America was also affected by the Enlightenment, but the American experience was different, in part because of the Great Awakening. The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-90) laid the cap on the contributions of the Enligtenment when he conceptualized the workings of capitalism--the driving force of modern economies. The ideas of the Enligtenment developed in Britain over centuries. The Amnericans in the same year that Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations would begin to put them into practice (1776).

Ottoman Empire

The Enligtenment affected all of Europe, excpt the Muslim Ottoman Empire. It might be understood why the enliftenment did not touch India and China bcause of distance and communication. The Ottoman Empire was differnt. Kt was in close contact with European countries, actually bordering on European powers. Abd the Ottomans purchased European technology and hired European experts. They saw that technology was important in ntional power. They were unable, however, to create the technology that Europe produced. The question of why is one that historians need to answer. It is understandable why the Ottomans reject Enlightment thinkers like Hobbes and Locke expising natural law. It is quite another thing to understand why they could not create science or even adopt the scince the West created.

Catholic Europe

It is understandable that Catholic southern Europe (Italy, Spain, and Portugal) dominasted by the Counter Reformation did not participate in the Enlightenment.

German States

It is less clear why the German states did not make a greater contribution. We suspect that the emense dmage resulting from the relighous wars of the 17th century, espcilly the Thirty Years war was a factor,

France

The French Enlightenment thinkers were called the famed Philosphes. They were not, however, the most original thinkers, but were skilled publicists of the new ideas and published some of the most readable texts. These thinkers and the Glorious Revolution (1668-69) stirred the French Philosphes. The ideas now associated with the Enlightenment began to circulate around Europe, but within a narrow range of highly academic thinkers. François-Marie Arouet Voltaire (1694-1778) went to England and wrote letters praising what he observed. Baron Montesquieu (1689-1755) conceived of the separation of powers in government on his largely eronious concepot of the English political system. These individuals and other French thinkers brought the new ideas out of musty academia into the smart Paris salons. Hobbes and Locke were not easy authors to read which limited their readership and impact. The more readable Philosphes throught their breezy works and Paris salon society reached a much wider range of people who began to talk about the new concepts. The French Philosphes, especially Voltaire, Rosseau, and Diderot popiularized the concept of reason above all, but also the concepts toleration and natural law. They helped build a confidence in modern man and his achievements.

England

England had a major impact of the French Philosphes. It was in England that Issac Newton (1643-1727) helped launch modern science. It must be recalled that the Enlightenment was not just concerned with political ideas, but that natural science also captured their attention. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) in England addressed the concept of natural law. John Locke, a philosopher and physician, seen by many as the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. He is commonly known as the Father of Liberalism. His ideas were brought to life in the United States Constitution.

America

The greatest American figure of the Enlightenment was Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), largely because of his scientific achievements. Many of the great figures of the Revolution were well read and influenced by the great Enligtenment thinkrs. The ideas of the Enligtenment developed in Britain over centuries. The Americans in the same year that Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations would begin to put them into practice (1776). And the Constitution about a decade later was higly influenced by yje works of John Locke. Some describe it as Lockean document.

Scotland

John Locke (1632-1704) in Scotland was perhaps the greatest political thinker of all time. The American Constitution is Lockian document. America was also affected by the Enlightenment, but the American experience was different, in part because of the Great Awakening. The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-90) laid the cap on the contributions of the Enligtenment when he conceptualized the workings of capitalism--the driving force of modern economies.

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Created: 9:13 AM 1/22/2017
Last updated: 9:13 AM 1/22/2017