The Enlightenment CH 17 section 1& 2

The EnlightenmentCH 17 section 1& 2 Unit 8 PP # 1

The Enlightenment • The scientific revolution as applied to the field of human behavior • Use methods of natural science to examine and understand all aspects of life • By doing this you discover laws of human society (fields of political science, sociology etc.) • The result is the creation of better societies and better people

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Believed that mans natural state was conflict because they always acted in self interest • Power to govern comes from the people but they transfer it to a monarch by an implicit social contract • The King is absolute and in return the people receive law and order • Author of Leviathan

John Locke (1632-1704) • Concept of natural rights explained in his Second Treatise on Civil Government (1690) • People establish governments to protect “Life, liberty and property” • If a government fails to protect these rights they become a tyranny and the people have right to rebel • Church and state should be seperate

Locke On Education • In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding he stated that man is born a “blank slate” or Tabula Rasa and learns from experience • The old belief was that man was born with certain ideas and ways of thinking • Locke called for the reform of social and educational institutions that he believed played a major role in the development of human beings

The Philosophes • French social critics who turned away from traditional beliefs and relied on reason to guide them (reformers not revolutionaries) • Rejected the authority of the Church and created their own religion Deism • John Toland (Christianity Not Mysterious) • Committed to reforming society • Often in trouble with the law for writings on religion and government • Used satire

The Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • Upper class lawyer and author • The Persian Letters (1721) • Critique of 17th Century French society written from the perspective of Persian travelers • The Spirit of the Laws (1748) • One of the greatest works on social science • Studied all forms of government • Checks and balances • 3 branches of government

Voltaire (1694-1788) • Struggled his entire life against legal injustice and class inequalities before the law (70 books) • Best government was an enlightened monarch • The Candide: railed against war and religious persecution (no toleration) • Hated the Church (no room for human improvement)

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • Born poor in Switzerland • Supporter of personal freedom • Believed that civilization (materialism,production) and rationalism corrupted man who was born basically good • Wrote Emile and put forward the concept of the noble savage • Wrote The Social Contract in which he outlined a plan emphasizing direct democracy and the “general will”

Denis Diderot (1713-1784) • Attempted to examine the whole of human knowledge from A-Z • Greater knowledge = greater human happiness • Over 17 years they edited 21 volumes of what became known as The Encyclopedia • Contributions from all of the philosophes on matters such as blindness, slavery, religion, atheism, the soul etc.. • Pope placed it on The Index

Women in the Enlightenment • Wealthy female patrons would organize salons where Philosophes could present papers and spread their ideas • Some women began to challenge their traditional Roles (Mary Wollstonecraft)

New economic thought • Both the French and Adam Smith begin to argue against Mercantilism • The Wealth of Nations • Free markets • Competition • Laissez-Faire

Unit 8 PP # 2Chapter 17 section 2 Enlightenment ideas spread Enlightened monarchs

Catherine II (the Great) • Limited reforms • No torture • Religious toleration • Kept serfdom

Frederick II (r. 1740-1786) • King of Prussia • Reduced torture • Less censorship • Religious toleration • Kept Serfdom

Joseph II (Austria) 1741-1790 • Traveled in secret to learn his subjects problems • Abolished serfdom • Revoked after his death • Ended censorship • Religious toleration

The Enlightenment CH 17 section 1& 2