HIST 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Montesquieu, Cesare Beccaria, Nohn
11 Dec 2015
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Philosophes: enlightenment intellectuals in france who claimed all arts and sciences as their domain. Voltaire: contrasted british virtue with french vice, attacked french clergy and nobility directly and french monarchy implicitly. Placed into prison twice only leaving the second time by promising to leave the country. Returned to france to popularize britain the french. Hume: based critical outlook on skepticism, nothing could be known for certain. Exploded synthesis of descartes by arguing that only perceptions existed, not matter or mind (neither. Launched a frontal attack on established religion (if there could be no certainty, then the revealed truths could be proved for certain) of christianity could have no basis) Montesquieu: admired hume, wrote the novel persian letters which comments on the absurdity of european customs and religion (the french in particular) A successful government was one in which powers were separated with checks and balances existing within the institutions of the state.
