Enlightening Strikes!
Objectives
- Describe the major thinkers of the Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment
- Analyze Voltaire's argument for religious toleration
Agenda
- Listen to music from this time period and prepare for your quiz!
- Reading Quiz #4: Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment
- PowerPoint: Enlightenment
- Paintings!
- What is the Enlightenment?
- Scientific Revolution
- Ideals
- Treatise on Toleration
- Introduction
- Your book says Voltaire was a Deist. Why does the introduction of this piece suggest that might not be accurate?
- Usefulness of Religion
- In his first two paragraphs he offers a defense of religion. Summarize that defense.
- Assume, for a moment, that Voltaire didn't actually believe this defense of false religion. Why might he have written it anyway?
- What damage has superstition done "in history" according to Voltaire?
- He suggests France has been Enlightened. During his time, what
beliefs does he cite as common knowledge among the educated? (page 2)
- What would Voltaire call government officials who would try and restrict their scientific beliefs based on religious values? (page 2)
- What is the most dangerous superstition, according to Voltaire? (page 2)
- Virtue is Better Than Science
- Define the word "dogma"
- Why does Voltaire oppose dogmas?
- Voltaire argues for freedom of belief at the end of this section. How does he explain that the government cannot restrict it?
- On Universal Tolerance
- How should we regard all men?
- Define the word "satire"
- He tells an exaggerated, extreme story which he feels describes most religions. (Read the story). He then suggests to a clergyman that this is his story. Summarize Voltaire's criticism of religion in this satirical story.
