{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 29 - The Philosopher King - Enlightened Despotism, part 2, Prussia","description":"In his famous essay \u201cWhat is Enlightenment?\u201d the Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant declared: \u201c[E]nlightenment requires nothing but freedom \u2026 to make public use of one\u2019s reason in all matters. Now I hear the cry from all sides: \u2018Do not argue!\u2019 \u2026 Only one ruler in the world says: \u2018Argue as much as you please, but obey!\u2019\u201d  That ruler was Frederick the Great \u2014 and his influence was not lost on Kant.  \u201c[T]his age is the age of enlightenment,\u201d Kant declared. \u201c[T]he century of Frederick.\u201d Frederick the Great ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786 and launched a blitzkrieg of Enlightenment reforms impacting religious tolerance and freedom of speech. He was hailed as a philosopher king by Voltaire and gave refuge to scandalous writers who had been persecuted around Europe. But his rule was erratic, and often Absolutism would trump Enlightenment ideals.  In this episode, we cover Frederick the Great\u2019s reign and his attitude and policies towards freedom of thought and the press. Topics include: How Frederick\u2019s Enlightenment ideals reformed Prussia How he favored Enlightenment for the elite, but not the masses How Voltaire, Diderot, and D\u2019Holbach clashed over the merits of Frederick\u2019s enlightened despotism How Frederick offered refuge to scandalous authors such as the French atheist Julien Offray de La Mettrie The dos and don\u2019ts of Prussian censorship How the enlightened Prussian public sphere differed from its French and American counterparts   How the enlightened Prussian elite, including Kant and Moses Mendelssohn, praised both freedom of speech and Frederick the Great\u2019s Enlightened Despotism  How the death of Frederick and the ascension of Friedrich Wilhelm resulted in a backlash against enlightenment values, including free speech and religious tolerance   Why have kings, emperors, and governments killed and imprisoned people to shut them up? And why have countless people risked death and imprisonment to express their beliefs? Jacob Mchangama guides you through the history of free speech from the trial of Socrates to the Great Firewall. You can subscribe and listen to Clear and Present Danger on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, YouTube, TuneIn, and Stitcher, or download episodes directly from SoundCloud. Stay up to date with Clear and Present Danger on the show\u2019s Facebook and Twitter pages, or visit the podcast\u2019s website at freespeechhistory.com. Email us feedback at freespeechhistory@gmail.com. ","author_name":"Clear and Present Danger - A history of free speech","author_url":"http:\/\/freespeechhistory.com","html":"