The Enlightenment

The Age of Reason

Enlightenment

Reaches peak in mid-1700s

sparked by Scientific Revolution

apply reason and scientific method to areas outside science (politics, religion, economics, etc.)

Views on Government

Thomas HobbesLeviathanBelieved people are

selfish and evilSocial Contract -

people give up rights to be ruled by strong leader in exchange for law and order

Absolute rulers exist to keep order

John Locke

People have ability to govern themselves

all people are born with 3 natural rights

life liberty property

Locke

Government’s purpose is to protect those rights

Citizens have right to overthrow government if they don’t do their job (James II)

Foundation of modern democracy - gov. comes from people

Philosophes

French Philosophers

Concepts that form core beliefs

1. Reason2. Nature 3. Happiness4. Progress5. Liberty

Voltaire

Used satire to fight church, government, aristocracy

fought for freedom of speech, religion, tolerance, reason

Deism

Baron de Montesquieu

Separation of powers - legislative (Parliament), judicial (courts), and executive (monarch)

Checks and balances “power should be a

check to power”

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Disagreed with other philosophers

Civilization corrupts people’s natural goodness

Only good government is guided by people - direct democracy

Rousseau

Social contract - people create government in order to be a free society

Believed there should be no aristocracy (used in French Revolution)

Cesare Baccaria

Focused on judicial system

Against torture of witnesses and suspects

No arbitrary or cruel punishment

Speedy trialPunishment fits crimeNo capital punishment

Women in the Enlightenment

Mary Wollstonecraft

Encouraged education for women

Women should be involved in politics

Impact of Enlightenment

1. Belief in progress2. More secular (worldly) outlook on life3. Importance of the individual

(individualism)

Leads to: American and French Revolutions

Things to know

While items in red are important to know, we’re stepping it up a bit and you need to be responsible for the other info as well. All items on power points are fair game for quizzes.

You do need to turn in by quiz day a compiled list of definitions of all the items in red. (Include Denis Diderot, Adam Smith)