Enlightenment & American Revolution

Ch 17

Philosophy in the Age of Reason

Sec 1

Natural Law

• Who: Europeans• What: rules that are discoverable by reasoning that

governed scientific forces such as gravity & magnetism• Where: Europe• When: 1500s-1600s• Why: scientific success convinced educated Europeans

of the power of human reason; used to better understand social, economic, & political probs; used this to study human behavior & solve probs = led to the Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes

• Who: 17th century English thinker• What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the

Enlightenment ; wrote “Leviathan”• Where: England• When: 1700s• Why: he lived through upheavals in the English Civil

War; outlined his ideas in “Leviathan”= argued that ppl were naturally cruel, greedy & selfish; he said that ppl entered into “Social Contract” to avoid brutal life; best gov’t= Absolute Monarchy

John Locke• Who: 17th century English thinker• What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the

Enlightenment• Where: England• When: 1700s• Why: he thought ppl were reasonable & moral; ppl had

certain natural rights: life, liberty, & property; came to very diff ideas about the human nature & role of govt= govt has obligation to its ppl, if it fails, it fails the ppl = if govt violates natural rights = ppl have a right to overthrow= American & French Revolutions

Social Contract

• Who: European ppl; Thomas Hobbes• What: an agreement where ppl gave up their

freedom for an organized society • Where: Europe• When: 1500s-1600s• Why: Hobbes said that ppl entered into this

agreement to escape the brutish lifestyle; believed a powerful govt = orderly society; promoted Absolutism

Natural Right

• Who: John Locke• What: rights that belonged to all humans on

earth such as life, liberty, & property• Where: England• When: 1700-1800s• Why: Locke believed ppl are reasonable & moral=

they have rights from birth; ppl had a right to overthrow a govt if these rights were violated = American & French Revolutions

Philosophe

• Who: French Enlightenment thinkers/philosophers

• What: they believed the use of reason could lead to reforms of gov’t, law, & society

• Where: France, Europe• When: 1700s• Why: this group of thinkers started

Enlightenment thought = spread throughout Europe & beyond; applied methods of science to improve society

Montesquieu

• Who: an early influential thinker; a philisophe• What: studied the gov’ts of Europe & learned about

Chinese & Native Am. Cultures; wrote “Sprit of Laws” • Where: France, Europe• When: 1689-1748• Why: his sharp criticism of Absolutism = debate; in

order to protect liberty the gov’t should be divided into 3 branches; idea taken by framers of US Constitution; wrote “Persian Letters”= ridiculed French Gov’t

Lab- ch 2 lab packet & Budget Hero

Voltaire

• Who: a Philosophe, poet & historian• What: an imprisoned poet, historian, essayist &

philosopher• Where: Paris, France• When: 1694-1778• Why: he detested the slave trade; deplored

religious prejudice; defended principle of freedom of speech; his new ideas= imprisoned & forced into exile

Diderot

• Who: a Philosophe, editor of the Encyclopedia• What: he produced a 28-volume set of books called

the Encyclopedia• Where: Europe, the Americas• When: 1751-1789• Why: he wanted to change the general way of

thinking by explaining ideas on topics such as gov’t, philosophy, religion = urged education for all ; included articles from Montesquieu & Voltaire; denounced slavery & praised freedom of expression

Rousseau• Who: Jean-Jacques Rousseau; a Philosophe• What: created the Social Contract (book) society

placed too many limitations on ppl’s behavior; believed that ppl were basically good

• Where: France• When: 1762• Why: believed in good will & best conscience of

the ppl; he showed great hate for oppression; his ideas= American & French Revolutions

Laissez-Faire

• Who: French thinkers; Adam Smith• What: a policy allowing business to operate w/

little or no gov’t interference• Where: France, • When: 1700-1800• Why: this rejected Mercantilism= gov’t controls

the economy to reach a favorable balance of trade; this supported free trade & opposed tarriffs

Adam Smith

• Who: Scottish Economist• What: In his influential work “Wealth of Nations”

he advocated for the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity

• Where: Scotland, Europe, Americas• When: 1800-1900s• Why: he was a strong supporter of Laissez-Faire;

felt gov’t should only administer justice & provide public work; his ideas= shape productive economies in 1800-1900s

Rococo

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why:

Enlightenment Ideas Spread

Sec 2

Censorship

• Who: European writers• What: restricting access to ideas & info• Where: France, Europe, Americas, Middle East• When: 1700s• Why: Authorities had to defend the “Old order”

that God had set up agnst the writers’ new ideas= banned all books & burn books & imprison the writers= writers disguise their ideas in fiction

Salons

• Who: writers, artists ,& philosophers; French women• What: an informal social gathering for women in their

homes• Where: Paris, France• When: 1600-1700s• Why: it started in 1600s- noblewomen began inviting

friends to their homes for poetry readings; by 1700s it flourished- middle class women are now invited= equal footing = discuss & spread enlightenment ideas

Baroque

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why:

Enlightenment Despot

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why:

Frederick the Great

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why:

Catherine the Great

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why:

Joseph II

• Who:• What:• Where:• When:• Why: