Enlightenment Questions

ENLIGHTENMENT QUESTIONS
Do a Very Careful, complete job of this
1. Explain three central concepts of Enlightenment thinking (p. 605)
2. Explain the distinction in classes between the Enlightenment leaders
and most of the rest of society.
3 What was Fontenelle’s primary contributions?—discuss progress
Explain how his views challenged religion. Pp. 605-06
4. The text says that the works of Fontanel and others reflected “a
real crisis in European thought at the end of the 17th century”
growing out of several “intellectual uncertainties and
dissatisfaction's.” Take good notes on each of the four uncertainties.
5. Relate these uncertainties to Montaigne and his skepticism and
6. interest in foreign cultures.
7. Who were the philosophes? How did they cater to the public, rather
than to the private world? How did they view the public?
8.. Why did they write satirical and double meaning works?
9. .What were the Baron Montesquieu’s greatest works--Briefly
summarize each and explain the importance.
10. Summarize Montesquieu’s political theories not mentioned in #9.
11Give a background of Voltaire’s life p. 609
12 Why is she important: Madame du Chatelet
. 13 What were some of Voltaire’s major views and how did they differ
from those of Montesquieu?
. 14. What is meant by the Clockmaker? What is Deism? (Read pp.
626-27 before you answer---make this a big answer)
. 15 Describe the importance of Diderot and the Encyclopedia
16. How did d’Holbach differ from Voltaire?
17.What were Hume’s beliefs towards God?
18 What is so ironic about Condorcet’s beliefs and life?
19 Briefly summarize Rousseau’s beliefs p 612..
20 pp.612-15 discuss the increase in French reading materials and the
effects of this shift.

21 How did this reading revolution contribute to the rise of a critical
world view?
22 . How does Immanuel Kant, the German Enlightenment thinker fit
into this picture?
23. What was the rococo ?
24. Describe the Enlightenment Salons. Who were the most famous
women involved?
25. Reread last paragraph on salons beginning with “As this passage “
p. 615 and summarize its importance.

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