The Age of Reason
and the
Renaissance Age
Locke, Swift, Machiavelli and Bacon
Essential Question:
How can I apply ideas and concepts from the
Age of Reason and the Renaissance Age to my
life and the world today?
The Age of Reason
•The Age of Reason replaced emphasis on
emotion with belief in the power to reason to
establish balance and order.
•John Locke - representative philosopher of
this era – voiced ideas that inspired political
movements and documents such as the US
Declaration of Independence.
John Locke (1632-1704):
The state of nature has a law of nature to
govern it, which obliges every one:
and reason, which is that law, teaches
all mankind, who will but consult it, that
being all equal and independent, no one
ought to harm another in
his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745):
The Renaissance:
•Began in Italy near the end of the
th
14
century
•Continued throughout Europe for the next 300
years
The Renaissance represents a cultural shift of
incalculable dimensions:
•Faith to reason
•Divine power to human capability
•Superstition to observation
•An interest in ancient times was revived
•The arts blossomed
•Mathematics and science achieved enormous
development
Quick Write (in your notes)
•What were the effects of the invention of the
clock?
•What were the effects of the invention of the
printing press?
Machiavelli (1469-1527):
•He wrote The Prince from the point of view of
one familiar with the political intrigues of
Renaissance Italy
•His practical approach to political theory
recognizes that in this imperfect world, virtue
often leads to defeat.
Machiavelli continued:
•He advises rulers to use tactics that
work regardless of traditional moral
limits.
•Many deplore his view, but political
realists often admit that Machiavelli
was right.
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626):
•Politician, writer, philosopher and scientist
•Like Machiavelli, he was an acute observer
and interpreter of the data he observed
around him.
Sir Francis Bacon continued:
•His essays reflect the
Renaissance emphasis on
reason while exploring
didactic (instructive) themes.
PS – He was responsible for
introducing the essay form into England.