The philosophes were groups of thinkers in 18th century France who met to discuss social and political issues and solutions to social problems. They rejected the ideas of absolute monarchy and favored democracy. Some of the most influential philosophes included Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. They believed that reason and science should guide society rather than religion or tradition. Their ideas helped spark the French Revolution by challenging the status quo and authority of the monarchy and church.

1. New IdeasNew Ideas

2. ►The “philosophes” helped to start the revolutionThe “philosophes” helped to start the revolution
in France.in France.
►They were women and men who met to discussThey were women and men who met to discuss
society and politics, and solutions to socialsociety and politics, and solutions to social
problems.problems.
►They rejected absolute monarchy and favouredThey rejected absolute monarchy and favoured
democracy, established in England and USdemocracy, established in England and US
(after 1776).(after 1776).
►Several women were heavily involved in thisSeveral women were heavily involved in this
movement; Madame de Pompadour & Englishmovement; Madame de Pompadour & English
writers, Mary Astell and Mary Wollstonecraftwriters, Mary Astell and Mary Wollstonecraft

3. Madame de Pompadour (1721-64)Madame de Pompadour (1721-64)
• unofficial wife of Louis XV
•Held many salons
•Protected free thinkers
•http://www.madamedepompadour.com/_en
g_pomp/home.htm

4. English Women PhilosophesEnglish Women Philosophes
► Mary AstellMary Astell was awas a
proto-feminist writerproto-feminist writer
whose advocacy ofwhose advocacy of
equal educationalequal educational
opportunities foropportunities for
women earned her thewomen earned her the
title "the first Englishtitle "the first English
feminist."feminist."
► MaryMary
WollstonecraftWollstonecraft
► she is celebrated forshe is celebrated for
her early advocacy ofher early advocacy of
women's equality andwomen's equality and
rationality, and forrationality, and for
arguing against thearguing against the
degradation anddegradation and
subjugation of womensubjugation of women
justified by "thejustified by "the
arbitrary power ofarbitrary power of
beauty"beauty"

5. The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment
►The philosophes were against any religion thatThe philosophes were against any religion that
they viewed as old-fashioned or superstitious.they viewed as old-fashioned or superstitious.
►What did ‘enlightened’ meanWhat did ‘enlightened’ mean??
►It meant that science and human intelligenceIt meant that science and human intelligence
were of the highest importance. If a belief couldwere of the highest importance. If a belief could
not stand up to reason then it had to benot stand up to reason then it had to be
discarded.discarded.
►What influenced the philosophesWhat influenced the philosophes??
►Isaac Newton – law of gravityIsaac Newton – law of gravity
►John Locke – empiricismJohn Locke – empiricism

6. ►Empiricism – knwledge was possible onlyEmpiricism – knwledge was possible only
through experience of the world with yourthrough experience of the world with your
senses.senses.
►What did philosophes clash with religionWhat did philosophes clash with religion??
►Religious beliefs could not be proven withReligious beliefs could not be proven with
senses.senses.
►Direct conflict with Church and its teachings.Direct conflict with Church and its teachings.
►Church supported monarchs.Church supported monarchs.
►Church and monarchs were holding upChurch and monarchs were holding up
progressprogress
►They must change or they had to go.They must change or they had to go.

7. The BIG ThreeThe BIG Three
RousseauRousseau VoltaireVoltaire MontesquieuMontesquieu

8. ►VoltaireVoltaire – Against the church, for freedom– Against the church, for freedom
of speech, absolute monarchy is good forof speech, absolute monarchy is good for
society, hated injustice, disliked Rousseausociety, hated injustice, disliked Rousseau
►MontesquieuMontesquieu – Ruler must work with– Ruler must work with
elected parliamentelected parliament
►RousseauRousseau – Social contract, ‘natural’ law– Social contract, ‘natural’ law
– people are naturally good and destroyed– people are naturally good and destroyed
be govt and society, feelings more importantbe govt and society, feelings more important
than thinking – romanticthan thinking – romantic

9. Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau
•Swiss political philosopher
of the Enlightenment and
purported father of the
French Revolution
•Important works; Discourse
on Inequality (1754),
Discourse on Political
Economy, (1755) Social
Contract (1762).

10. VoltaireVoltaire
•Francois Marie
Arouet
•Voltaire's intelligence,
wit and style made him
one of France's greatest
writers and philosophers
• “Those who can make
you believe absurdities
can make you commit
atrocities.”

11. MontesquieuMontesquieu
•Charles-Louis de
Secondat, Baron de
La Brède et de
Montesquieu
•Montesquieu's most
radical work divided
French society into three
classes (or trias politica,
a term he coined): the
monarchy, the
aristocracy, and the
commons.

12. The Political ClubsThe Political Clubs
GirondistsGirondists JacobinsJacobins Sans-culottesSans-culottes

13. Radical Leaders of theRadical Leaders of the
RevolutionRevolution
MaratMarat DantonDanton RobespierreRobespierre

14. The Revolutionary WarsThe Revolutionary Wars
►European countries were on the brink ofEuropean countries were on the brink of
invading France to restore the king’s powerinvading France to restore the king’s power
►Marat, Danton, and Robespierre gaveMarat, Danton, and Robespierre gave
speeches telling the people that foreignspeeches telling the people that foreign
troops would destroy the country and alltroops would destroy the country and all
their hard-earned rights.their hard-earned rights.
►The people’s faith never stoppedThe people’s faith never stopped
►French armies won a victory against AustriaFrench armies won a victory against Austria

15. The End of the MonarchyThe End of the Monarchy
►The war made people even more suspiciousThe war made people even more suspicious
of the royal familyof the royal family
►The National Convention decided that theThe National Convention decided that the
king should be tried for his crimes againstking should be tried for his crimes against
the country and executedthe country and executed
►““Citizen Louis Capet” was found guilty andCitizen Louis Capet” was found guilty and
guillotined Jan 21, 1793. M.A. wasguillotined Jan 21, 1793. M.A. was
guillotined in October.guillotined in October.