The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

or “Wow, do I feel smarter!”or “Wow, do I feel smarter!”

The Enlightenment may be seen as a The Enlightenment may be seen as a period in the late 1600s and 1700s when period in the late 1600s and 1700s when writers, philosophers, and social critics re-writers, philosophers, and social critics re-examined the rules that govern individuals examined the rules that govern individuals and societies.and societies.

They were influenced in their thoughts by They were influenced in their thoughts by the Renaissance, Reformation and the Renaissance, Reformation and Scientific Revolution – all of which Scientific Revolution – all of which encouraged new ways of thinks – often encouraged new ways of thinks – often trying to apply reason and rational trying to apply reason and rational thought.thought.

Natural LawsNatural Laws

Early Enlightenment thinkers Early Enlightenment thinkers rejected the idea that all laws and rejected the idea that all laws and rights were granted to individuals rights were granted to individuals from their governments or the from their governments or the church.church.

They believed that from birth people They believed that from birth people possessed natural rights and were possessed natural rights and were governed by natural laws that could governed by natural laws that could not be changed by people. not be changed by people.

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Believing in natural laws Believing in natural laws did not mean that all did not mean that all Enlightenment thinkers Enlightenment thinkers applied the concept the applied the concept the same.same.

Thomas Hobbes believed Thomas Hobbes believed that people were naturally that people were naturally cruel and evil. In his book, cruel and evil. In his book, LeviathanLeviathan, Hobbes stated , Hobbes stated that only through a strong that only through a strong ruler/government can the ruler/government can the natural brutishness of natural brutishness of people be controlled.people be controlled.

Hobbes helped to Hobbes helped to develop the theory develop the theory that people lived that people lived together through together through social contractssocial contracts..

Unwritten Unwritten understandings that understandings that people give up people give up freedoms/tendencies freedoms/tendencies to the government in to the government in order to live in an order to live in an orderly societyorderly society

John LockeJohn Locke

John Locke rejected John Locke rejected the old concept that the old concept that people were born evil. people were born evil. He promoted the idea He promoted the idea of of tabula rasatabula rasa – – “blank slate”.“blank slate”.

Locke believed that Locke believed that people were born people were born neutral and life neutral and life experiences made experiences made people good or bad.people good or bad.

Tabula rasa was an earth shaking concept.Tabula rasa was an earth shaking concept. According to Locke, societies created According to Locke, societies created

either good or bad people – THEREFORE either good or bad people – THEREFORE societies needed to be good – THEREFORE societies needed to be good – THEREFORE people needed to actively pursue good people needed to actively pursue good societies – THEREFORE people need to first societies – THEREFORE people need to first affect their governments rather than vice affect their governments rather than vice versa.versa.

Locke wrote many books, but is best Locke wrote many books, but is best known for known for TWO TREATISES OF TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT.GOVERNMENT.

Les PhilosophesLes Philosophes

French writers were at the forefront of the French writers were at the forefront of the Enlightenment – called Enlightenment – called philosophesphilosophes..

France did not have freedom of the press France did not have freedom of the press and the nobility of France controlled most and the nobility of France controlled most of society – this fact was often criticized by of society – this fact was often criticized by the philosophes – sometimes landing them the philosophes – sometimes landing them in jail.in jail.

This may be seen as part of the start of This may be seen as part of the start of the French Revolution.the French Revolution.

MontesquieuMontesquieu

Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu in 1748 published in 1748 published The The Spirit of the LawsSpirit of the Laws in in which he promotes which he promotes the idea of separation the idea of separation of powers and checks of powers and checks and balances as a way and balances as a way to keep tyrants from to keep tyrants from assuming power.assuming power.

His views were used His views were used by the Americans in by the Americans in forming their forming their government.government.

VoltaireVoltaire

Francois-Marie Arouet Francois-Marie Arouet wrote under the name wrote under the name VoltaireVoltaire..

His essays and fiction His essays and fiction writing bitterly writing bitterly attacked established attacked established society and society and governments.governments.

He attacked prejudice, He attacked prejudice, religion, corruption, religion, corruption, and the idle rich.and the idle rich.

His most famous work His most famous work was the satirical novel was the satirical novel Candide.Candide.

Voltaire’s attacks on Voltaire’s attacks on the French the French government and government and nobility often caused nobility often caused him to be imprisoned him to be imprisoned in the Bastille or to be in the Bastille or to be exiled out of France.exiled out of France.

He was a friend and He was a friend and correspondent to correspondent to many of the rulers of many of the rulers of Europe.Europe.

Voltaire’s Death MaskVoltaire’s Death Mask

DiderotDiderot

Denis Diderot Denis Diderot applied reason to applied reason to the collection of the collection of knowledge.knowledge.

For over 25 years For over 25 years he collected he collected information about information about everything and everything and placed it in 28 placed it in 28 volumes known as volumes known as the the Encyclopedie.Encyclopedie.

Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau

In his book In his book The Social The Social Contract Contract Jean-Jacques Jean-Jacques Rousseau stated that Rousseau stated that people should give up only people should give up only a small amount of their a small amount of their rights to a government and rights to a government and that government MUST be that government MUST be freely elected by the freely elected by the people.people.

He believed that people He believed that people were basically good and were basically good and should be left alone as should be left alone as much as possible.much as possible.

Tomb of RousseauTomb of Rousseau

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft

Angered over the Angered over the exclusion of exclusion of women from the women from the writings of the writings of the Enlightenment, Enlightenment, English writer Mary English writer Mary Wollstonecraft Wollstonecraft wrote wrote On the On the Vindication of the Vindication of the Rights of Woman.Rights of Woman.

Adam SmithAdam Smith

In a rejection of In a rejection of mercantilism, mercantilism, Adam Smith wrote Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of The Wealth of NationsNations in 1776. in 1776.

He promoted free He promoted free enterprise – enterprise – laissez-fairelaissez-faire where the where the government does government does not control trade.not control trade.

Enlightened DespotEnlightened Despot

A despot is an monarch or ruler with A despot is an monarch or ruler with supreme power – absolutism.supreme power – absolutism.

It may seem contradictory, but many of It may seem contradictory, but many of the despots in Europe in the 1700s read the despots in Europe in the 1700s read and at some level agreed with the writers and at some level agreed with the writers of the Enlightenment.of the Enlightenment.

Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria tried to use reason and rational Austria tried to use reason and rational thought in their rule.thought in their rule.

Some abolished torture, some tried Some abolished torture, some tried to control the state church, and some to control the state church, and some tried to give their subjects limited tried to give their subjects limited rights.rights.

In the end, most Enlightened despots In the end, most Enlightened despots did not change their kingdoms much did not change their kingdoms much – as true Enlightened change would – as true Enlightened change would have destroyed their power.have destroyed their power.

Joseph II HRE Catherine the Great of RussiaJoseph II HRE Catherine the Great of Russia

Frederick the Great of PrussiaFrederick the Great of Prussia