The Enlightenment

2 Questions:

1) Is man good or is man evil? Explain, give examples Do not say both

2) Attempt to explain this quote

“Man is born free but everywhere else he is in chains”

Enlightenment

just after Scientific Revolution People begin to reevaluate aspects of society

Economics Religion Education Government

Enlightenment Definition

Enlightenment (mid 1700s) - an intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems.

Also known as Age of Reason

Two Views on Government

Thomas Hobbes- Leviathan 1651 John Locke- Two Treatises on Government

LockeHobbes

Hobbes

Believed all humans were naturally selfish and wicked

Had witnessed this during English Civil War

Without government, man would be in consistent war with one another leading to solitary, poor, short lives

Hobbes

In order to escape this, people must enter into a SOCIAL CONTRACT with a ruler in exchange for law and order.

This would allow people not to act on own self interest and give ruler total power.

In your own words, what does this mean?

John Locke- Natural Rights

Believed people could learn from experience and were reasonable

Believed people were naturally good and could govern themselves

Against an absolute monarchy

Believed in NATURAL RIGHTS Life, Liberty, and Property

Where have you seen this before?

Locke

Believed a government’s purpose is to protect these rights and if a government does not, the people have the right to overthrow it

Rule by popular consent

Basically if a government does not do what you want it to do, you have the right to get rid of it.

Other Enlightenment Philosophers

Voltaire: consistently fought for tolerance and freedoms through essays, books, and philosophy

“I may not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Other Philosophers

Montesquieu – Separation of Powers

Montesquieu 3 branches of

government

Separation of powers

Checks and balances

Montesquieu Continued.. French writer whom believed England

had best government because power was spread among King and ParliamentProposed that the best way to keep a government from becoming too powerful was to make sure each side never had enoughNeed each other- Checks and Balances

Other Philosophers

Rousseau: he believed the best government was that formed by free people.

direct democracy People give up freedoms for

common good “Man is born free, everywhere he is

in chains”

A change for Women

Prior belief: Education for women was to help them be helpful wives and mothers

Men dominated marriage

Mary Wollstonecraft: Used reason to make point that women

should be equal Education will help them become equal Criticized equality of marriage

If all men are born free, then are all women born slaves?

So what is so important about the Enlightenment?

So what is so important about the Enlightenment?

Created a greater reliance on logic and reason to solve problems as opposed to traditional views

People began to not only question government, but religion more freely

Rise of individualism- people began to use own reason to determine right and wrong. Also our role in society

Governmental ideas influenced new nations and current nations to reconsider government that ruled them

Enlightened Despots

Monarchs who tried to use Enlightenment ideas

Still wanted absolute power but tried to please the people

Fredrick the Great

King of Prussia

Religious freedom

Reduced censorship

Reformed justice system

Catherine the Great

Czarina of Russia

Land reform

Improved education

Expanded the empire

Many of her ideas never actually happened

Joseph II of Austria

Son of Maria Theresa

Ended Serfdom

Ended censorship

Fixed taxes