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logical to conclude about the natural equality of men from all spheres of life. The
philosophers paid special attention to the problems of education (J. Locke, K.
Helvetius , Diderot, Rousseau). With emphasis on teaching aspects, the creation of
a favorable environment generally close to nature prevented the negative influence

of the society.
The attitude of figures of the Enlightenment was ambiguous. Most of them
experienced the transition from deism (belief systems, in which God is recognized

as the creator of the world, but his participation in the life of nature and society is
rejected) to atheism. The Enlightenment consistent atheism was a negation of the
totality of religious representations. Atheists were talking about an evil role that

religion played in the history of mankind. P. Holbach in his treatise ‘System of
Nature’ called religion the main superstition , the main obstacle in achieving the
common good.

Less consistent in this regard were other thinkers (Rousseau, Jean
d'Alembert ), and generally followed the famous Voltaire 's own conception ,
according to which deism is suitable only for ‘decent people’, people also need to
keep the orthodox Catholicism : ‘If God did not exist, one would invent him’.

Thus, Voltaire saw in religion a sort of moral limitation imposed on the ignorant
people.

It is significant that the majority of pressing problems of the Enlightenment
were somehow connected with the questions of morality. The Enlightenment could
not fix the world and bring it to light the way of the mindset without creating a
‘new man’. Some philosophers sought to enlighten than educate people

(Rousseau), others tried to combine enlightenment with broad education (Diderot).
Moreover, the notion an ‘educated man’, and a lot of ethical standards were
substantially revised . In the ideology of the Enlightenment bourgeois morality

dominated which contrasted with the gallant, aristocratic etiquette, exquisite rules
of conduct, principles of moderation, modesty , pragmatism, sanctity of the family
as a unit of society, the inviolability of property, rehabilitation of labor as the basis

of wealth. The criterion of the individual morality was its relevance to the public
interest. The Enlightenment set forth some general rules valid for all time, to which
humanity , realizing their accuracy and reasonableness, should grow. Thus,

according to the principle of normative ethics the classic Enlightenment thinkers
replaced the high citizenship ideals by the the bourgeois values rather than the
universal ones.
The education of people should have been conducted by means of

explanation, persuasion. The Enlightenment intellectuals sought to expand their
influence in the public consciousness. The XVIII century was the period of rapid
development of journalism, newspapers, magazines, publishing. In 1751-1780

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