The Philosophes

I. Introduction
II. Diderot (Existing knowledge solves problems)
    A. The Encylopedia and its contributions to
          --medicine
          --science
          --technology
          --sports!
          --history
III. Condorcet (Education solves our problems)
    A. The "Progress of the Human Mind" leads to
        --end of social inequality
        --end of inequality between sexes
        --end of economic inequality
        --end of war
        --end of imperialism
        --end of disease and (almost) death
        --creation of "an Elysium created by reason"
IV. Rousseau (Reason leads to a better political and social system)
    A. Background (from The Confessions)
    B. Basic human problem: we all do slimy things
    C. Rousseau's answer: work on changing society (not self!)
    D. The formation of society: the social contract
        1. Natural liberty exchanged for civil liberty
        2. Differences between natural rights and civil liberties in regard to
            --equality
            --property
            --life
            --tolerance
    E. The "general will," the key to a just society
    F. How the "general will" is expressed
        1. Not necessarily through democracy!
        2. Frequent changes in government
        3. Through a great law-giver
V. The Deists (reason leads to a better religion)
VI. The Optimists (reason solves the problem of evil)
VII. Voltaire (a few doubts as to what reason can do)
    A. Reason doesn't convince: laughter works better
    B. Reason doesn't solve the problem of evil (criticism of Optimism in Candide)

For what it's worth, here's what the English artist and poet William Blake (1757-1827) has to say about Voltaire and Rousseau. I don't have time to read the poem in class, but I think Blake is right on the mark.

Mock on, Mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau

Mock on, mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau:
Mock on, mock on: ‘tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind,
And the wind blows it back again.

And every sand becomes a Gem,
Reflected in the beam divine;
Blown back they blind the mocking Eye,
But still in Israel’s paths they shine.

The Atoms of Democritus
And Newton’s Particles of Light
Are sands upon the Red Sea shore,
Where Israel’s tents do shine so bright.

VIII. Kant (what reason can and cannot do)
    A. What reason (by itself) can't do
        --Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics
        --Critique of Pure Reason
    B. What reason can do
        --Show us our duty (through the categorical imperative)
        --Show us we can do our duty
        --Make us happy!