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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. Roots in the Scientific Revolution. The Scientific Revolution came about as a result of the Renaissance and continued through the 17 th & 18 th centuries It rejected traditional authority and church teachings in favor of direct observation & study of nature

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment

  2. Roots in the Scientific Revolution • The Scientific Revolution came about as a result of the Renaissance and continued through the 17th & 18th centuries • It rejected traditional authority and church teachings in favor of direct observation & study of nature • The basis of this revolution was the Scientific Method

  3. Important Figures of Scientific Revolution • Scientists began to discover that the motions of objects could be predicted by mathematics • Robert Boyle is known as the “Father of Chemistry.” • He is one of the 1st scientists to perform controlled experiments and to publish his work in detail • Sir Isaac Newton was the most influential thinker of the Scientific Revolution • He connected the speed of falling objects on earth to the movement of planets: The Law of Gravity • Newton’s discovery raised hopes that all of the universe acted according to certain fixed and fundamental laws.

  4. The Enlightenment • The Enlightenment was sparked by the progress of the scientific revolution • The Enlightenment was an important 18th century European movement where thinkers believed by applying reason and scientific laws, people would be better able to understand both nature and one another. • They applied the new scientific method to society and its problems • At the Core of the Enlightenment was a questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals

  5. Major ideas Questioned • The Divine Right of Kings • Where rulers derived their power from • The hereditary privileges of the nobility • The power of the Catholic Church • Christianity & Religion • The Rights of Men

  6. Natural Laws • Enlightenment philosophers believed that nature and society operated according to certain basic universal principles, which they referred to as “natural laws” • They believed people could use their reason to discover these laws and then apply this knowledge to improve their quality of life

  7. Early Enlightenment focus: End Cruelty and excessive Violence • Following the Wars of Religion, in Europe, enlightenment thinkers began to favor religious toleration • To avoid senseless killing • They, generally, opposed torture

  8. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Born into a time of chaos in England • Based his philosophy on his view of the state of nature • Life was nasty, brutish, and short: Individuals totally self-interested • Rabbit example: ________________ • Without a strong central authority life would become like the state of nature. • Consequently, Hobbes believed kings were justified in seizing absolute power because only they could act impartially to maintain order in society. • Hobbes wrote Leviathan, justifying his support of an Absolute Monarchy

  9. Hobbes believed that as long as kings kept their population’s safe, they should remain in power.

  10. John Locke (1632-1704) • Another famous English philosopher • Locke challenged the view of rulers ruling by Divine Right • He based his view on this state of nature: • Believed individuals were strategically self-interested with an eye to the future • Rabbit example: _____________________ • Also, individuals are free in this state • They only join together in a community to protect themselves & make a better living • The community hands power to government in a “social contract” • Therefore, the main purpose was to protect life, liberty, and property • Therefore, he believed people had the right to revolt when the government abused its power

  11. Voltaire (1694-1778) • French Enlightenment Philosopher • Famous for his wit & humor in making fun of common beliefs • He supported • Freedom of religion • Freedom of expression • Freedom of trade • Separation of Church & State • Views were very influential in later revolutions

  12. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • Believed state of nature was peaceful between humans • Thought people should be organized in small groups and should seek a consensus on major decisions • Government, therefore, should express the “General Will” of the people.

  13. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • Wrote the Spirit of Laws • Argued for a separation of powers in government • Encouraged the development of a system of checks and balances • All ideas centered around the best way to limit abuses of power

  14. Adam Smith (1723-1778) • Described Capitalism in his book, “The Wealth of Nations” • Explained how competition and the division of labor help to guide a free-market economic system based on self-interest • Competing Bakeries • Invisible hand of market corrects problems • Argued that government should follow a laissez-faire, or “hands off,” policy towards the economy.

  15. Enlightened Despotism • Enlightened despots were absolute monarchs who tried to use Enlightenment ideas to reform their societies “from above.” • They often came from countries without a strong middle-class and they believed it was up to the ruler to introduce positive changes. • They instituted religious tolerance, established scientific academies, and promoted social reform • However, they rarely supported the sharing of political power • Examples include: • Catherine the Great- Russia • Frederick the Great- Prussia • Joseph II- Austria

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