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The Enlightenment in Europe Age of Reason

The Enlightenment in Europe Age of Reason. Chapter 22.2. Views on Government. Thomas Hobbes: Believed that all humans were born evil and selfish and that it was the job of the government to maintain order.

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The Enlightenment in Europe Age of Reason

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  1. The Enlightenment in EuropeAge of Reason Chapter 22.2

  2. Views on Government • Thomas Hobbes: • Believed that all humans were born evil and selfish and that it was the job of the government to maintain order. • Social Contract: people giving up individual rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order. (Absolute Monarchy)

  3. Views on Government • John Locke: • Believed people could learn from experience and were born with natural rights. • Purpose of the government was to protect those rights. • If the government does not uphold its end of the deal the people have the right to overthrow it. • “government by the consent of the governed”

  4. Question: • Do you think our U.S. government is doing a good job of upholding it’s end of the deal? Why or why not?

  5. Philosophes • Enlightenment reached its height in France in the mid-1700’s. • Social Critics of the time were called Philosophes • Believed in five basic principles: • Reason: Truth can be discovered through logical thinking. • Nature: believed what was natural was good and reasonable and that there were natural laws to economics and politics just like motion.

  6. Happiness: believed that if a person lived by nature’s laws they would be happy on Earth and not just in the afterlife. • Progress: Believed that because a scientific approach could be applied to society and humankind, perfection was within reach. • Liberty: Envied the freedom that the English Bill of Rights provided and thought that society could be set free through reason.

  7. Francois Voltaire • Commented on French politics and government. • Often used satire against his opponents. • Targeted the clergy, aristocracy and government • Sent to prison twice before being exiled to England. • While he was there he came to admire the English government, especially the English Bill of Rights • He returned to Paris and questioned the laws and customs of France. • The king and bishops did not appreciate this and eventually he was forced to flee Paris.

  8. Baron de Montesquieu • Believed that England had the best government of the day because power was balanced between three groups. • Separation of powers: • Executive power • Legislative power • Judicial power • He believed that power should be a check to power.

  9. Think Tank • How is our government influenced by Baron de Montesquieu’s philosophies?

  10. Jean Jacques Rousseau • People were born good and that society corrupted them. • He believed that the only good government was one that was freely formed by the people and reflected the “general will” of the people (Direct Democracy) • This meant that people would give up some of their freedom for the good of all. • The Social Contract was an agreement between free individuals to create a society and government.

  11. Mind Bender • Give some examples of how society corrupts people.

  12. CesareBeccaria • Focused on the justice system. • He believed that laws were in place to preserve social and political order not as punishment. • Believed that the accused had the right to a speedy trial and that the punishment should fit the crime. • Did not believe in torture or capital punishment (Death Penalty)

  13. So Easy a Caveman Can Answer It! • What U.S. Constitutional amendment gives citizens a right to a speedy trial? (Remember your hand signals!)

  14. Women and Enlightenment • Even though there was a lot of progress for society as a whole, most philosophes took a traditional view on the role of women. • Did not believe that women should participate in government or receive an education that was out of their sphere of influence (the home).

  15. Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. • Argued that women needed to be educated in order to be better citizens and raise better citizens. • Thought women should not only be nurses but also doctors. • Women also participated in politics by spreading Enlightenment ideas in salons. • Large drawing rooms that held social gatherings.

  16. Opinion! • Do you think that mothers with a higher education raise smarter children?

  17. Long Term Effects of Enlightenment • Belief in Progress: • New discoveries in science opened the door to use logic and reason to answer society’s questions as well. • A More Secular Outlook: • People no longer just accepted religious beliefs as absolute truth but began to question the logic behind them. • Importance of the Individual: • As people turned away from the King and Church they began to turn inward for the answers to their problems.

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