Question 1

Which of the following statements best expresses the philosophes' attitude toward slavery?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements best expresses...

Question 2

The "invisible hand" of Adam Smith's theory could best guide economic activity because:

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith believed that individuals are rational and capable of making the best decisions for themselves. The "invisible hand" refers to the idea that markets will self-regulate, with supply and demand guiding the allocation of resources in the most efficient way possible. Therefore, the best guide for economic activity would be the rational choices of individuals and the self-regulating nature of the market.

Question 3

Although not well understood when first published in the eighteenth century,Jean-Jacques Rousseau's book,_________,would become very influential during the French Revolution later in the same century.

Accepted Answer

The Social Contract is a political treatise that discusses the idea of a social contract between the government and the governed. It questioned the legitimacy of traditional monarchy and argued for the sovereignty of the people. These ideas became very influential during the French Revolution, which sought to overthrow the absolute monarchy and establish a more democratic form of government.

Question 4

One philosophe organization,founded by Warville de Brissot,which called for the abolition of slavery was:

Accepted Answer

The Society of Friends of Blacks, also known as the Society of the Friends of the Blacks, was an abolitionist organization founded by Warville de Brissot in France in 1788. Its goal was to work for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade, and to promote equal rights and justice for black people.

Question 5

According to the Abbé Guillaume Thomas François Raynal,the one event that had a profound impact on Europeans was:

Accepted Answer

The discovery of the New World had a profound impact on Europeans as it opened up new avenues for trade, expansion, and colonization, leading to the creation of new empires and the expansion of existing ones. It also led to the exchange of goods, ideas, and people between Europe and the Americas, which had a significant impact on European culture and society. Raynal, a French writer and philosopher, wrote extensively on the impact of European colonization on the Americas in his work "A Philosophical and Political History of the Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in Asia, Africa, and America."

Question 6

Although the philosophes condemned slavery,they did not argue for its immediate abolition and used many different means of avoiding the issue.One of their number,_________,exposed the hypocrisy of this approach by wondering how the Europeans would view slavery if they themselves were being enslaved.

Accepted Answer

The quote, "I know of no greater luxury than liberty, but if I had to choose between liberty and equality, I would choose equality," is attributed to Voltaire, who was known for his condemnation of slavery. He also wrote a novel, "Candide," which criticized the slave trade. However, like many other philosophes, he did not argue for immediate abolition and was criticized for his hesitancy on the issue.

Question 7

The South Pacific region was explored extensively by both the French and the English.The French explorer,Louis-Anne de Bougainville,searched the South Pacific in search of a new route to China.He was soon followed by the English explorer:

Accepted Answer

James Cook explored the South Pacific extensively on three separate voyages, mapping out many of the islands in the region and documenting their flora and fauna. He also made contact with the indigenous peoples of the region, including the Maori of New Zealand and the Polynesians of Tahiti. Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, James Caville, and John Cabot were not known for their exploration of the South Pacific.

Question 8

With the rise in literacy and the book business in the eighteenth century,censorship:

Accepted Answer

With the rise of literacy and the book business in the eighteenth century, censorship was not completely absent, but it was not institutional throughout Europe either. It was unevenly implemented, with some countries having stricter censorship laws than others. The Roman Catholic Church did play a role in some cases of censorship, but it was not solely responsible, and censorship was not limited to children's books.

Question 9

In his novel Emile,Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that:

Accepted Answer

Rousseau believed that children are by nature good and innocent, and that their education should focus on developing their natural abilities and instincts. He also believed that children are equal in their capacity to learn and that they should learn through experience and exploration rather than by rote.

Question 10

The South Pacific island of Tahiti was first discovered for the Europeans by:

Accepted Answer

Louis-Anna de Bougainville, a French navigator, was the first European to visit Tahiti in 1768.

Question 11

_________ was a Jewish philosopher who argued that religion should be voluntary,that secular states should promote tolerance,and that progress for everyone would come through humanitarianism.

Accepted Answer

Moses Mendelssohn was a Jewish philosopher and one of the most important figures of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) movement. He believed that religion should be voluntary and not forced upon people, and argued for the separation of church and state. He also promoted tolerance and believed that progress for everyone would come through humanitarianism.

Question 12

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's fellow philosophes deemed which of his books as "hysterical and obscene"?

Accepted Answer

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's book "Julie" was seen as controversial by his fellow philosophes due to its depiction of Julie's sexual behavior being linked to her emotional and mental state, as well as a critique of the aristocracy. Some even called it "hysterical and obscene."

Question 13

According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau,freedom meant:

Accepted Answer

According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, freedom meant equal citizens obeying the laws they had made themselves. He believed that true freedom could only be achieved through a social contract where everyone has a say in the creation and enforcement of laws. This way, the laws would be based on the general will of the people, and everyone would be equal under them. This is why he advocated for direct democracy and the idea of the general will.

Question 14

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's somewhat conflicting views of female nature illustrate:

Accepted Answer

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's views of female nature were conflicting, as he both praised the natural ability of women to nurture and care for children but also believed that women were intellectually inferior to men. This illustrates the shifting meaning of "nature" by the middle of the eighteenth century, as the Enlightenment challenged traditional assumptions about gender roles and innate characteristics of men and women.

Question 15

In her Vindication of the Rights of Woman,Mary Wollstonecraft argued that:

Accepted Answer

In her Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft argued that all men and women share a common humanity and should therefore be granted equal rights and opportunities. She rejected the idea of innate gender differences or a natural division of labor, and saw the subjugation of women as a result of social conditioning and lack of education. Wollstonecraft did not advocate for women to be protected or treated differently from men, but rather for them to be seen as capable and autonomous individuals deserving of the same freedoms and respect.

Question 16

The eighteenth-century Enlightenment produced an elite or high culture that was typified by:

Accepted Answer

The Enlightenment was known for its cosmopolitan nature, meaning it was open to and influenced by cultural developments from different parts of the world. This is seen in the exchange of ideas and perspectives among Enlightenment thinkers from different countries and in the development of the concept of universal human rights.

Question 17

Unlike the French physiocrats who believed that the wealth of a nation came from the land and agricultural production,Adam Smith believed that the wealth of a nation came from its:

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith believed that the wealth of a nation came from its labor, specifically the division of labor and specialization in different industries. He argued that this led to increased productivity and efficiency, which in turn increased wealth.

Question 18

Mary Wollstonecraft believed that equality laid the basis for virtue and thus argued that society ought to seek "the perfection of our nature and capability of:

Accepted Answer

Mary Wollstonecraft believed that equality was necessary for individuals to achieve their full potential and become virtuous. She argued that society should strive for the "perfection of our nature," which includes the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental goal. Therefore, the most fitting choice is happiness (option D).

Question 19

Although much exploration was carried out by the French and the English,people from many other nations participated in the exploration of the New World.One of these,_________,was hailed by Charles Darwin as "the greatest scientific traveler who ever lived."

Accepted Answer

Alexander von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer who traveled extensively throughout South America and Mexico in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his scientific observations and discoveries and is considered one of the founders of modern geography. Charles Darwin, in particular, cited Humboldt as a major influence on his own work.

Question 20

Closely following voyages of discovery,many Enlightenment thinkers such as Denis Diderot believed that the Tahitians best represented humanity:

Accepted Answer

Enlightenment thinkers believed in the concept of the "noble savage", where humans in their natural state were seen as pure and uncorrupted by civilization. Therefore, they believed that Tahitians, who were seen as living close to nature without significant technological advancements, represented humanity in its natural state.

Quiz 17: The Enlightenment