enlightenment thinkers and ideas

The Enlightenment

What exciting conclusion did

philosophers reach during the

Enlightenment?

Reason could be used to solve all

human problems.

Describe the driving ideology/s

behind the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment

Applied reason to the human world, as well as to the

rest of the natural world

Stimulated religious tolerance

Fueled democratic revolutions around the world

Influence of the Enlightenment

Enlightenment ideals fueled Amer. & Fr. Revs.

Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, the U.S.

Constitution and the Bill of Rights incorporated

Enlightenment ideas.

Thomas Hobbes

•English thinker, wrote views of government in Leviathan

• Absolute monarchy best

• Believed people needed government to impose order

–People selfish, greedy

–Should exchange some freedoms for peace, safety, order

–Social contract

John Locke

•English philosopher, believed all people born equal & basically good

•Government should protect people’s natural rights - Two Treatises on Government

–Monarchs not chosen by God

–Government by consent – protect Life, Liberty, Property

–Power limited by laws

–Ideas foundation for modern democracy

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

French philosopher, believed people basically

good

•Believed society corrupted people

•Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all

members of society

“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

•Believed government should work for

common good, not wealthy few

•Individuals should give up some freedoms

for benefit of community

•Despised inequality in society

•Views inspired revolutionaries in years to

come

Baron de Montesquieu

• Separation of powers

• Best form of government divided power among branches of government

• Separation of powers kept individual or group from abusing power

• The Spirit of the Laws

-Published 1748, showed admiration of Great Britain’s government

Baron de Montesquieu•Powers divided into branches:

legislative, executive, judicial

•Parliament made laws, king carried

out laws, courts interpreted laws

•Separation of powers allowed each

branch to check against power of

others

•Concept later important structure of

democratic governments

Voltaire•Francois-Marie Arouet, wrote as

Voltaire

•Outspoken philosopher, wrote with biting wit

–Attacked injustice among nobility, government, church

–Created enemies, imprisonedtwice

Voltaire

• –Exiled to England for two years

• –Defended principles, fought superstition,

ignorance

• –Lifelong struggle for justice, toleration,

liberty

• Religious toleration, sep. Church & state

Two “Revolutionary” Documents

• Declaration of Independence –Thomas Jefferson, America, 1776.

• The Declaration of the Rights of

Man and Citizen – Marquis de

Lafayette, France, 1789

Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on

government, others on issues in society

Mary Wollstonecraft•Enlightenment thinkers still held

traditional views about women

•Proper roles wives, mothers; should receive limited education

•Wollstonecraft demanded equal rights for women

•A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, equal education for women

Women’s Rights Movement

From Wollstonecraft to Seneca Falls

Critical Intro:

Write a clear, detailed and

persuasive argument for the

induction of Adam Smith into

the Enlightenment Thinkers

“Hall of Fame”.

Adam Smith•Scottish economist, used reason to analyze

economic systems

•The Wealth of Nations advanced free market enterprise

•Strong believer in laissez-faire economics, no government regulation

•Believed economy would be stronger if market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely

Key Ideas of the Enlightenment

• The ability to reason is what makes humans

unique

• Reason can be used to solve problems and

improve people’s lives

• Reason can free people from ignorance,

superstition, and unfair government

Key Ideas of the Enlightenment

• The natural world can be governed by laws

that can be discovered through reason

• Like the natural world, human behavior is

governed by natural laws

• Governments should reflect natural laws

and encourage education and debate

Enlightened Monarchs

• The new political ideas also affected the

leadership of some eighteenth-century

European monarchs. The ideals of

tolerance, justice, and the improvement of

people’s lifestyle became guidelines for the

rulers known as Enlightened Monarchs,

such as Joseph II of Austria and Frederick II

of Prussia.

Enlightened Monarchs

• To be sure, they still ruled absolutely, but

they internalized the Enlightenment

philosophy and made attempts to tolerate

diversity, increased opportunity for serfs,

and take on the responsibilities that required

their rule.