The Enlightenment in Europe

1. The Enlightenmentin Europe

2. Enlightenment • “The Enlightenment” – an intellectual movement • “The Age of Reason” based on the Scientific Revolution: Enlightenment thinkers tried to apply reason and scientific method to laws that shaped human actions and society.

3. Enlightenment • Writers and authors held discussions and social gatherings called “salons” • Rulers who followed Enlightenment ideas in part – but were unwilling to give up much power – were called “enlightened despots”

4. Two Views on Government • Thomas Hobbes. • Believed there would be a war of “every man against every man” if there was no government. • “Social Contract”: agreement between people and their government.

5. Two Views on Government • Thomas Hobbes. • “Social Contract” • People give up their rights to the government to live in a safe and orderly way. • Best government is that of a strong king who can force all people to obey.

6. Two Views on Government • John Locke Believed people have three natural rights: • Life • Liberty • Property

7. Two Views on Government • John Locke • If government fails to protect the three rights, people have a right to overthrow the government.

8. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Philosophes: Social critics / French thinkers

9. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Philosophes: Social critics / French thinkers. Five main beliefs: • REASON: Truth can be discovered through reason or logical thinking. • NATURE: What was natural was also good and reasonable. • HAPPINESS: Rejected the medieval idea that people should wait to find joy in the afterlife, and urged people to seek happiness and well-being on earth today! • PROGRESS: Society and humankind can improve. • LIBERTY: People should enjoy freedoms & rights.

10. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Voltaire • Most brilliant of the philosophes • Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief and freedom of speech.

11. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Montesquieu • Wrote about Separation of Powers: dividing government among the separate branches of government.

12. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Rousseau • Wrote in favor of human freedom. • Wanted society in which all people were equal.

13. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Beccaria • Italian • Spoke against abuses of justice • Abolish torture

14. The Philosophes Advocate Reason • Mary Wollstonecraft • Wrote about women’s rights: “If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?” • Many Enlightenement thinkers wanted equal rights for men but paid no attention to the fact that women didn’t have such rights.

15. Legacy of Enlightenment • Influenced American and French Revolutions • Spread the idea of progress • Use reason to make society better • Made world less religious and more worldly. • Importance of the individual.

16. Enlightenment Paragraph • SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER: • P. 200, Question #9 • Write one paragraph (appx. ½ page) Compare the views of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau on government. Then write one paragraph about how their ideas reflect their understanding of human behavior.