The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of Enlightenment Europe had dwelled in the dim glow of Europe had dwelled in the dim glow of

the Middle Ages when suddenly the the Middle Ages when suddenly the lights began to come on in menlights began to come on in men’’s minds s minds and humankind moved forward.and humankind moved forward.

As described by Immanuel Kant, As described by Immanuel Kant, enlightenment meant, enlightenment meant, ““the freedom to the freedom to use oneuse one’’s own intelligences own intelligence””..

Enlightenment ThinkersEnlightenment Thinkers

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes:: Ideas:Ideas: People were cruel, greedy, selfish and if People were cruel, greedy, selfish and if

not strictly controlled would fight, rob and not strictly controlled would fight, rob and oppress each other.oppress each other.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government: To escape a brutish life, To escape a brutish life, people entered into a people entered into a social contractsocial contract in which in which they gave up freedom for an organized society. they gave up freedom for an organized society. Ideal govt. was a monarchy, it could compel Ideal govt. was a monarchy, it could compel order and obedience.order and obedience.

John LockeJohn Locke:: IdeasIdeas: Thought people were reasonable and : Thought people were reasonable and

moral. People had moral. People had natural rightsnatural rights, rights we , rights we are born with. Rights include life, liberty and are born with. Rights include life, liberty and property.property.

Ideas on GovernmentIdeas on Government: Believed rulers : Believed rulers derived their power only from the consent of derived their power only from the consent of the people. The best kind of govt. had limited the people. The best kind of govt. had limited power. If a govt. violated peoplespower. If a govt. violated peoples’’natural natural rights, the people had the right to overthrow rights, the people had the right to overthrow that government. He rejected absolute that government. He rejected absolute monarchy.monarchy.

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes: In the 1700s a group : In the 1700s a group of Enlightenment thinkers applied the of Enlightenment thinkers applied the methods of science to understand and methods of science to understand and improve society.improve society.

Montesquieu:Montesquieu: Ideas:Ideas:Believed in religious tolerance. Believed in religious tolerance.

Slavery reforms. Wrote Slavery reforms. Wrote Spirit of the Spirit of the Laws,Laws, discussed govts. throughout discussed govts. throughout history.history.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government: Felt best way Felt best way to protect liberty was to divide functions to protect liberty was to divide functions and power of govt. among and power of govt. among three three branchesbranches; executive, legislative and ; executive, legislative and judicial. Each branch would serve as a judicial. Each branch would serve as a check on the other two. Sharply check on the other two. Sharply criticized absolute monarchy.criticized absolute monarchy.

Voltaire:Voltaire: Ideas:Ideas: Advocate of human rights. He Advocate of human rights. He

denounced organized religion, detested denounced organized religion, detested religious prejudice and the slave trade. religious prejudice and the slave trade. Attacked corrupt officials and idle Attacked corrupt officials and idle aristocrats.aristocrats.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government: Defended the principles of freedom of Defended the principles of freedom of

speech and freedom of religion. speech and freedom of religion. Believed in political freedom.Believed in political freedom.

Rousseau:Rousseau: Ideas:Ideas: Felt people in their natural state were Felt people in their natural state were

basically good and that they were corrupted basically good and that they were corrupted by the evils of society. Hated all forms of by the evils of society. Hated all forms of political and economic oppression.political and economic oppression.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government:Felt that societyFelt that society placed too many limitations on people. placed too many limitations on people. Believed controls should be minimal. Only Believed controls should be minimal. Only freely elected govts. should impose these freely elected govts. should impose these controls. Good of the community as a whole controls. Good of the community as a whole should be placed above the individual. Wrote should be placed above the individual. Wrote his ideas in his ideas in The Social Contract.The Social Contract.

Diderot:Diderot: Ideas: Ideas: Compiled 28-volume set of Compiled 28-volume set of

books titled books titled EncyclopediaEncyclopedia. Explained . Explained ideas on government, philosophy and ideas on government, philosophy and religion. Attacked traditional religions religion. Attacked traditional religions and urged education for all.and urged education for all.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government: Attacked Attacked divine-right theory, praised freedom of divine-right theory, praised freedom of expression, denounced slavery. expression, denounced slavery.

Wollstonecraft:Wollstonecraft: Ideas: Ideas: WomanWoman’’s first duty is to be a s first duty is to be a

good mother, but can decide her own good mother, but can decide her own self-interest.self-interest.

Called for equal education for girls and Called for equal education for girls and boys.boys.

Ideas on Government:Ideas on Government: Thought Thought women should participate in public life.women should participate in public life.

Smith: (physiocrat)Smith: (physiocrat) Ideas:Ideas: Urged a policy of Urged a policy of laissez laissez

fairefaire.The free market should regulate .The free market should regulate business activity.business activity.

Ideas on GovernmentIdeas on Government:: Govt. should stay out of the market Govt. should stay out of the market

place. place. Thought government should protect Thought government should protect society, administer justice, and provide society, administer justice, and provide public works.public works.