The eighteenth century is a period in which faith in human reason was both promoted and questioned. In the quarrel between the Ancients and the Moderns, the Moderns were winning. The notion of progress was celebrated in intellectual and political communities. In academies, cafés, and salons, new ideas were being shared and debated. The philosophes of the Enlightenment—or Siècle des Lumières—had a profound effect on the modern world. But keep in mind that lumières implies many different lights—there is no such thing as a single, unified Enlightenment project. In the next few lessons, you will read a few of the ideas of three great thinkers of the eighteenth century: Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau. You will get a sampling of their thoughts on enlightenment and its limits. This lesson prepares you with essential historical and cultural background, and introduces you to the writings of Montesquieu.
In this lesson you will learn how the political, intellectual, and social climate of the 18th century led to the French Revolution. You will gain an appreciation for the ambitions of the philosophes and you will learn to place Montesquieu and his works in the context of the Enlightenment. You will learn to appreciate and even imitate Montesquieu’s use of satire to promote an “enlightened” agenda.