Discussion Discussion 

• From what you know about absolutism and the Enlightenment, what do you think "enlightened absolutism" means?

Enlightened absolutism involves the rule of a monarch with enlightened ideas.

Enlightenment and Enlightenment and AbsolutismAbsolutism

• Enlightenment philosophy: The philosophes believed in natural rights for all people.

• Enlightened rulers: Many philosophes believed that enlightened rulers could establish and preserve these rights.

DiscussionDiscussion

• What natural rights did the philosophes believe an enlightened ruler should establish and preserve for people?

equality before the law; freedom of religious worship, speech, and the press; and the rights to assemble, hold property, and pursue happiness

Enlightenment RulersEnlightenment Rulers

• Prussia: While Frederick William I was mostly interested in increasing Prussia's power, Frederick II was willing to make limited reforms.

• Austria: Although Empress Maria Theresa improved the condition of serfs, she was not open to the philosophes' calls for other reforms.

• Russia: Catherine the Great was more concerned with strengthening the state and maintaining the status quo than with reforms.

• Common goal: Strengthening the state was a priority over enlightened reforms for all leaders.

Discussion Discussion 

• Were any of the rulers truly enlightened in the sense envisioned by the philosophes?

Only Joseph II of Austria tried to make reforms in line with enlightened thought.