HISTORY 1DD3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Montesquieu, Mercantilism, Encyclopedia
3 Oct 2016
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It became valuable for catholic states to have science societies for war and engineering: secret fraternal orders, the freemasons, class distinctions are obsolete. Ideas from philosophes: attack on organized religion. Scepticism: questioning of all dogma and accepted belief, philosophes were not atheist but they questioned the practices of the catholic church defied logic. They were concerned about social conditions and were against religious fanatics. Thought that its more important to discuss what"s happening in the real world opposed to what happens when we die. Voltaire (enlightenment writer): thought that he served god best by treating others humanely, spoke out against the church, attacked the established catholic church, practical reformer. Free press, clear rule of law, religious toleration, humane treatment of criminals, effective function of government. Did not believe in democracy, believed that power should be shared between monarchs and elites.
