Document 6561954

Lesson 21
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The Enlightenment: The Best Of All Pos iible Worlds
Objective
• To understand the transformation of so­
cial and political thought under the in­
fluence ofthe Enlightenment
Notes to the Teacher
The trend to view society in rational and
materialistic ways commenced during the Re­
naissance and culminated in the Enlighten­
ment. People became increasingly concerned
with the world about them as perceived
through the senses. The SCientific Revolution
made it possible to analyze, understand, and
question human institutions by introducing
the concept of universal laws.
The Old Order of eighteenth-century Eu­
rope had evolved through the centuries. New
institutions came into existence, but very little
of the old was discarded. SOCiety admitted a
privileged class and a punishable class. It
lacked logical uniformity. The philosophes
popularized a view of the world based on rea­
son, which became the new faith. Armed with
reason, man could go in search of the laws of
nature governing human activity. Once discov­
ered, the natural laws would supersede human
laws. The result would be a uniform and egali­
tarian SOCiety that operated like"clock work...
This criticism of the Old Order and the
proposals for a new society became stylish and
sophisticated among intellectuals and some
French aristocrats. This thinking undermined
the French establishment. It was a factor in
causing the French Revolution and furnished
the basis for modern egalitarian society.
In this lesson, students complete a chart
contrasting enlightened ideas with the Old Or­
der of society for homework. In class, they dis­
cuss the differences and describe the transfor­
mation in thought by constructing the
hypothetical musings of a French butler who
witnessed an "enlightened discussion" at a
Parisian salon in the reign of Louis XV.
13'
Advanced Placement European History I
Lesson 21,
Handout 21 (page I)
Name ____________~-----------------Date ____________~-------------------
The Enlightenment: The Best of all Poss!·ble Worlds
Part A. The following chart contrasts the Old Order of France with t e New Order proposed
by eighteenth-century enlightened thinkers, The basic concepts of he Old Order are pro­
vided. Complete the chart by identifying and explaining the cont1ibUtionS of the philo­
sophes in criticizing established custom and thought.
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NE 'NORDER
OLD ORDER
Philosophical
Political
Based on traditions and customs
founded in Medieval times: the
Three Estates, the guild system and
feudal dues
Diderot:
New National Divine Right
Monarchy
Montesqu eu:
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Voltaire:
Rouseau:
Economic
National mercantile laws, Five
Great Farms, guild towns,
provincial laws, internal tariffs
Quesnay:
DuPont:
Turgot:
Social
Three Estates
Diderot:
Voltaire:
Religion
Established church
Voltaire:
,
141 ,
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Advanced Placement European History I
LessOn 21.
Handout 21 (page 2)
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Name ____________
Date
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Part B. Answer the following questions based on the chart in Part A.
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1. Why did the Old Order come under attack?
2. Why were there divergent views for the construction of a New orFer?
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3. What features for a proposed New Order were held in common ~y most of the philo­
sophes?
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4. What features of the Scientific Revolution influenced the En~ightenment?
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5. From your knowledge of European history, what expianatio can you give for the
domination of the seventeenth century by English thinkers hile the French pre­
vailed in the eighteenth century?