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The philosophes (French for philosophers) were a group of French intellectuals of the 18th century Enlightenment.
Overview of the philosophes
Newton's formulation of the three laws of motion and law of universal gravitation prompted many Europeans to approach all study of nature through reason and logic. The philosophes were a result of this new approach to learning who encouraged reason, knowledge and education as a way of overcoming superstition and ignorance. Philosophes Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert edited the Encyclopédie (1751-1772,) which represented the philosophe belief that everything could be known, classified and understood by man. It also questioned religious authority and criticized social injustice. They believed that the role of philosophy was to change the world, not just to discuss it.
Because it was illegal to openly criticize the church and state in France, many wrote plays, novels, histories, dictionaries, and encyclopedias with subtle messages attached. An example is Montesquieu's Persian Letters.
These philosophes influenced rulers, such as Frederick II, the Great of Prussia, Catherine II, the Great of Russia, Maria Theresa of Austria, and Joseph II of Austria.
Although many philosophes disagreed with each other over certain principles the two major tenets the philosophes accepted were deism, and toleration.
Deism
Many philosophes rejected organized religion as a means of holding back human progress. Those philosophes critical to religion claimed that Christianity prevents humans from seeking improvement in their conditions by teaching ideas such as predestination and original sin. Through doctrinal conflicts over minor differences in interpretation of biblical passages Religion promotes intolerance and bigotry. These philosophes were by no means atheists, however (though there were some; Voltaire himself is thought to have been one). Most believed that God was more like a divine watchmaker who created the world to be rational and orderly. The best method to worship God, the philosophes contended, is to seek knowledge through logical and rational means.
Toleration
Many philosophes believed that toleration was the means to a virtuous life. They believed that toleration would combat the religious fanaticism that prevented humans from bettering their condition. This movement towards toleration was led by Voltaire in his Treatise on Tolerance and Gotthold Lessing in his play Nathan the Wise
Famous philosophes
References
- The philosophes
- Kagan, Donald et al. The Western Heritage, since 1300: Sixth Edition, Prentice-Hall, 1998. ISBN 0136173748
"Philosophe"