Ideas at the Heart of the

Enlightenment

Enlightenment• Early 1700s- apply reason to all

aspects of life • Ideas at the heart of Enlightenment:

– Reason– Nature– Happiness– Progress – Liberty

The Ideas…• Reason- absence of intolerance,

prejudice• Nature- natural things good and

reasonable– Natural laws of economics and politics (not

just motion)

• Happiness- live by nature’s laws to be happy– Don’t accept misery on earth– Focus on well-being on Earth

The Ideas…• Progress- 1st Europeans to believe in

progress for society–Perfect society/humankind through

scientific approach

• Liberty- looked to liberties won in Britain (Glorious Rev. and Bill of Rights)–Reason could set society free–Don’t violate other’s freedom

Philosopher’s and their Theories

John Wesley• Founder of Methodism• Methodism

–Revolt against rationalism & deism

–Emotion important in Christian conversion

–Reaction to English Romanticism–Inward heartfelt religion

Adam Smith • Looked to physiocrats (economic

reformers) believing the govt. should allow free trade– No mercantilism

– “laissez faire”- govt. hands off economy

• 1776 Wealth of Nations- free economy (Capitalism) produce more wealth than regulated economy (mercantilism)

Adam Smith• 3 natural laws of economics

– Law of self-interest

– Law of competition- efficiency=progress

– Law of supply & demand

• Market economy- quality at low prices

• Economic liberty= economic progress

Montesquieu

• French nobleman

• Studied political liberty

• Britain considered best governed–Balance of power- executive,

legislative, & judicial branches

Jean-Jacques Montesquieu

Montesquieu• On the Spirit of Laws- Separation

of power–Divided and checked powers

–Ensure liberties

–Basis of US Constitution

Rousseau• Born in Geneva, lived in Italy &

Paris

• Champion of liberty

• In Paris stayed away from salons

• Quarreled with most (insane)

Rousseau

Rousseau• 1762 The Social Contract- liberty

natural born right–Freedom, equality destroyed when

strongest took power–Only legitimate govt. ruled with

consent of people–“general will” of people (no

monarchs)

Hobbs• English philosopher (before

Enlightenment)– 1st to examine nature of man

• 1651 Leviathan- humans naturally wicked, govt. needed to protect people from own selfishness– Purpose of govt.- stop society from

falling into disorder (absolute monarchy)

– Inspiration: English Civil War

Thomas Hobbes

Locke• English philosopher

• People had gift of reason therefore the natural ability to govern (welfare of society)

• Govt. protect basic human rights- life, liberty, property

John Locke

Locke• Govt. involved in contract-

protect people’s rights–People could rebel if this not done

• Treatises on Govt. - justified overthrow of James II–Used by Jefferson (Revolutionary

War)

Voltaire• French Writings made him enemy

in French courts–Doubt cast on Christianity and

French King

–Louis XV- jailed him twice

–Exiled to Britain- influenced by Locke, admired British govt.

Voltaire

Voltaire• 1758 Candide (in Switzerland)

– Satire on French govt. and society– Against prejudice, superstition,

intolerance

• Praised Britain for commerce, religious tolerance

• Deist- God created universe– Unresponsive to prayer– NATURAL LAW– Rejected Christian doctrine

Denis Diderot

Diderot• French

• Encyclopedia- leading scholars contributed writings– Current enlightened thought

– Gave organization to existing knowledge

– Subjects- tech, science, math, art, medicine etc.

• Salons (Mme. Godfrey)

Diderot• 7th vol. Provokes Louis XV- govt.

censors ban further volumes–Diderot found ways around ban

• 1750-1772 28 volumes produced –Led to Encyclopedia Britannica

• Benefactors= Catherine the Great, Maria Theresa

Blaise Pascal

• French (math & physical science)

• Jansenist- against Jesuits

• Rejected deism & atheism

• Pensees

• Belief in God rational & improves life

Blaise Pascal• If God does not exist- does not

matter if believed

• If God does exist- no belief lose everything

Baruch Spinoza• Dutch (Jewish)- excommunicated• Pantheism- God = Nature• Ethics- reflects new science

(rational)• Only 1 substance = God

–All things exist in God• Opponents- human action unfree