Scientific Revolution & the Enlightenment

1. Scientific Revolution & the Enlightenment Chapter 16 Sec 1 – Chapter 20 Sec 2 & 4

2. The Enlightenment

3. Two Views on Government • Enlightenment: Age of Reason (mid-1700s) • People looking for laws which govern human behavior • Hoped to apply reason and the scientific method to all aspects of society • government, religion, economics, and education • Thomas Hobbes: English Civil War • Wrote ‘Leviathan’ • Human Nature: all humans are naturally • selfish and wicked • Government kept order and prevented war • Social contract: people exchanged their rights for • law and order • Absolute monarch imposed order and • demanded obedience • Best form of government

4. Two Views on Government • John Locke: Glorious Revolution • Wrote ‘Two Treatises of Government’ • Human Nature: people could learn from experience and improve themselves • Ability to govern their own affairs and to look after the welfare of society • Believed in separation of Church and State • Social Contract • People and government are bound to each other by consent • Contrasts ‘divine right’ • Man is born free and equal • Natural Rights – life, liberty, property • Government’s purpose is to protect these rights • Failure to do so = citizens’ right to overthrow it • Consent of the people is the foundation of modern democracy

5. Notable Philosophes & Ideas • Voltaire: French writer • Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech • Was arrested several times for criticism of the govt. • Used the pen as a deadly weapon vs. intolerance, prejudice, and superstition • “I disprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

6. Notable Philosophes & Ideas • Montesquieu: French writer • Studied political liberty • Wrote “On the Spirit of Laws”. • Ancient Rome: collapse directly related to its loss of political liberties • Separation of powers: Based upon British government • Executive power=king and his ministers • Legislative=Parliament, law-making power • Judicial=English courts/judges • Power should be a check to power • Checks and balances: Each branch of government would serve as a check on the other two • Serves as the basis of the Constitution of the United States

7. Notable Philosophes & Ideas • Jean Jacques Rousseau (Swiss): • Committed to individual freedom • Argued that civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness • Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains • People had lived as free and equal individuals • Strongest forced them to obey unjust laws • Freedom and equality were destroyed • The only good government was one that was formed by the people • Guided by the general will of society – direct democracy • Legitimate government came from the consent of the governed • All people were equal

8. Notable Philosophes & Ideas • CesareBonesanaBeccaria : Italian • Wrote “On Crimes and Punishments.” • Railed against common abuses of justice • torture of witnesses and suspects • irregular proceedings in trials • cruel and arbitrary punishment • Person should receive a speedy trial • torture should never be used • punishment should be based on the seriousness of crime • capital punishment should be abolished • Justice should be based on the principle that governments should seek the greatest good for the greatest number of people

9. Notable Philosophes & Ideas • Mary Wollstonecraft : • Wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”. • argued that women like men, need education to become virtuous and useful and bring equality between the sexes • Argued women should have the same political rights as men including right to vote. • Her two novels (Mary: A Fiction and Maria, or, The Wrongs of Woman) criticize traditional women's roles. • Education will make them better mothers

10. Impact of the Enlightenment • Impact of the Enlightenment • Challenged the principle of the Divine Right of Monarchs (Absolutism) • The union of church and state • Unequal social classes • Encouraged Monarchs to make reforms • Inspired the American, Latin and French Revolutions • Helped shape Western civilization • Scientific Revolution gave people the confidence that human reason could solve social problems • People began to openly question their religious beliefs and the teachings of the church • Religious toleration was promoted • Individualism – people looked to themselves instead of the church and royalty for guidance • People used their own ability to reason in order to judge what is right and wrong

11. Spread of Ideas • Salons: • Social gatherings • Philosophers, writers, artists, scientists, and other great intellects met to discuss ideas and enjoy artistic performances • Encyclopedia: Edited by Diderot (1741) • Leading scholars of Europe contributed articles and essays • The most current and enlightened thinking • Science, technology, art, government • Helped educate people all over Europe • Opposed by the Catholic Church: undermined royal authority • encouraged the spirit of revolt • fostered moral corruption, irreligion, and unbelief • Ideas available to a majority of the population • Enlightenment ideas reached middle-class people through newspapers, pamphlets, and songs

12. Enlightened Despots • Enlightenment Despots: • Enlightened – Embraced new ideas and reforms • Despot -- absolute ruler • Frederick the Great (Prussia. 1740-1786) • Friend of Voltaire • Granted many religious freedoms, reduced censorship, and improved education, reformed government • Said “every man must go to heaven his own way.” • Reformed the justice system and abolished the use of torture • Built canals, drained swamps, introduced new crops, such as the potato and turnip, to support peasants • Goal: to serve and strengthen his country

13. Enlightened Despots • Joseph II (Austria, 1780-1790) • Legal reforms and freedom of press • Freedom of worship – even for Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and Jews • Abolished serfdom, required peasants be paid a wage for labor. • Changes reversed after his death

14. Enlightened Despots • Catherine the Great (Russia, 1762-1796) • Took steps to modernize and reform Russia • Corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot • Formed a Commission to review Russia’s laws • Recommended religious toleration, abolishment of torture, and capital punishment • Commission took none of her suggestions • By end of reign • Suppressed peasant revolts, enforced serfdom, practiced religious intolerance • Sought trade access to Black Sea from Ottoman Turks • Divided Poland with Prussia and Austria

15. The End!