Enlightenment+Discussion+Question+Answers+B

What was the philsophe movement? A movement that has shawn the full value of the European enlightenment (includes DEISM, religious tolerance, and political & economic theories that changed the European society) What was the absolutism and why were people fighting monarchs at this time? absolutism: a theory by absolutists absolutist: people who disagree with the monarchs and the government’s action (They thought Monarchs should look over the citizens, not being evil) b. People were fighting the monarchs because, after the creation of the parliament, mainly focused for the monarchs, citizens refused to participate the parliament. Due to this, they fought.

3) What were the three common themes of the philosophy movement?

The three common themes of the philosophe movement are Greek humanistic views, to deal with wrong thoughts (for instance regarding religion), and making a system for many intellectual consequences and disciplines.

4) What were the three central ideas of the philosophe movement?

Deism a philsophy saying that religion should be reasonable, and religion have no effect on natural and human world, so should be approached completely free ideas. Religious tolerance outlined other religion. Progress is stating that history is the improvement of humanity because they got to develop deeper understanding of the world, stay away from superstitions, stop violence by establishing better government system, and making better social structures.

5. Voltaire’s two specific philosophical projects were to introduce empiricism and to proselytize religious tolerance. Empiricism: the theory that knowledge comes from experience. Proselytize religious tolerance: to stop people from trying to convert other people to their religion.

6. The reason Voltaire was so critical about religion is because he thought that the most inhuman crimes that had been committed throughout history was because of religion especially Christians against other Christians belonging to different churches.

7. Why was Diderot’s Encyclopedia such a groundbreaking work?

Diderot’s Encyclopedia is a groundbreaking work for two reasons: 1. The preface explained the philosphe attitude toward knowledge. 2. Organized the Encyclopedia into categories of human knowledge (Aristotelean principle). Nowadays the division of knowledge used in the Encyclopedia is responsible for the division of human sciences.

8. Why did Montesquieu believe that the British constitution was the best form of human government?

Montesquieu believed that the British constitution was the best form of human government for several reasons. First the British constitution divided the state powers into three independent branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. This form of government also gave maximum amount of political and economic freedom to its citizen. Since this form of government gave equal distribution of power (checks and balances) he thought it was the best form of human government.

9. What are the recommendations that Adam Smith made to develop modern economies?

Adam Smith recommended that nations should concentrate on improving their wealth, more than knowledge and society. He explains that growing economies should have three characteristics, one that is division of labor. It explains that work should be divided between everyone, and work can be done much more quickly and productively. Next, economic liberty states that monopolies and regulations are disincentives for people to do productive work. People should be free to choose whatever work they want to do. Since people are naturally selfish, if people are free to pursue their selfish goals, the wealth of the nation will increase. However, the selfishness should not create any injustice. Finally, Adam stated that the world was an infinite source of resources, and they can be used to benefit all of humanity. This was very different from previous ideas of mercantilism.

10. How did Cesare Beccaria propose reform to the justice and penal system? Cesare Beccaria argued that judicial punishment should not be used for punishment, but rather should be used to protect society. Beccaria wrote a book called On Crimes and Punishments at a time when most serious crimes were capital crimes and that executions were a common public sight, and this book changed the whole Europe. Forty years later, most had abolished torture and maiming as well as severely trimmed the number of crimes punishable by death. Plus, rather than throwing prisoners into a hole, they made open places which allowed them to be watched constantly whether the prisoners are learning proper social behaviors or not. In other words, instead of making prisoners’ lives miserable, they made them become a better person so they can contribute to the society when they are released.

11. What does Rousseau argue is the difference between being uncivilized and civilized? Rousseau argues that civilization corrupted human beings, and that progress, urbanization, technology, science has resulted in the humans being selfish and cruel. Also, civilized humans follow the opinions of others rather than doing what they want to do; civilization takes away freedom and individuality.

12. What was Rousseau’s version of the social contract? Rousseau’s version of the social contract said that the government should be based on rights and equality of everyone, and that if the government does not keep the rights and equality of the people, then the government has broken the social contract. He believed that rights and liberties are social contracts.