Philosophy in the Age of Reason

1. Chapter 17, Section 1 Philosophy in the Age of Reason

2. Question---Your Bellringer • How do you think the Scientific Revolution might have transformed how people looked at the events in the world?

3. Scientific Revolution Sparks the Enlightenment • Successes of the scientific method and use of other forms of reason convinced Europeans that the Human mind was powerful • They believed in Natural Law: • Rules discoverable by reason • They believed that natural law governed scientific forces, but believed that natural law may be able to explain other factors

4. Natural Law outside of Science • Many asked if we could use Natural Law to understand social, economic and political problems. • This is one way the Scientific revolution transformed all thought….. • Immanuel Kant was the first philosopher to dub this era “The Enlightenment”

5. Two Men With The Same Idea, But Completely Different….. Thomas Hobbes John Locke

6. Thomas Hobbes once Said • . In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

7. Huh? • Hobbes published his ideas in “The Leviathan.” • Hobbes believed that people are naturally cruel, greedy, violent, and selfish…… • If not strictly controlled, they would rape, murder, steal everything…. • No, that is not this classroom…. • This was life in the State of Nature….

8. The Way Out? • He described life in the state of nature as “Nasty, Brutish, and short…” • To survive, he believe man entered a social contract • You would give up some freedoms in exchange for protection from the government

9. Think-Pair-Share • Partner A: What rights would you be willing to give up in order for protection by your government? • Partner B: What type of government might protect its citizens the best.

10. Hobbes’ Government… • Hobbes believed that you needed a powerful monarch to order society • He believed putting the power in the hand of one person was the best way to compel order and force obedience

11. Locke’s Differences • Locke was more optimistic than Hobbes • He believed people were reasonable and moral. • He also believed people had certain natural rights • Rights that belonged to all humans from birth • He believed these rights included: Life, Liberty, and Property

12. Locke’s Book • Locke, in Two Treatises of Government, argued that the government was there to protect Natural Rights. • He, unlike Hobbes did not believe in an all-powerful central authority. • This is proven in the stance he took against James II. • He believed that James II should be de-throned for violating the rights of the English.

13. A “Revolutionary” Idea • Locke also introduced a new radical idea: • If a government fails to ensure that all people have natural rights or the government violates their rights, the people have the right to overthrow the government.

14. Hobbes vs. Locke Again • Believed people were violent and irrational • Believed people forfeited their rights to be protected by the government • Believed in an all-powerful monarchy • Believed people were rational and moral • Believed while there should be a government, their goal is to protect the rights of the people • Rejected absolute governmental power • Believed people could overthrow the government Hobbes Locke

15. Making Metaphors • Here are your instructions: • Step 1: • Pick three words from the summarization of Hobbes’ philosophy. • Pick another three words from the summarization of Locke’s philosophy. • Step 2: • Using your three words find a sport that best meets your three words and serves as a good metaphor for Hobbes’ philosophy. • Be ready to explain why your metaphor makes sense. • Repeat the same steps for Locke. • You have two minutes to create your metaphor.

16. Making Metaphors cont. • Step 3: • Partner A will share their metaphor for Hobbes for 30 seconds. • When that 30 seconds is up, Partner B will question the metaphor. • For the final 30 seconds, Partner A will answer Partner B’s questions. • Partner A will then repeat their steps with Locke. • Step 4: • Partner B will share their Hobbes metaphor for 30 seconds and repeat the above steps.

17. Hobbes vs. Locke Again • Believed people were violent and irrational • Believed people forfeited their rights to be protected by the government • Believed in an all-powerful monarchy • Believed people were rational and moral • Believed while there should be a government, their goal is to protect the rights of the people • Rejected absolute governmental power • Believed people could overthrow the government Hobbes Locke

18. Montesquieu One of the Philesophes

19. The Spirit of the Laws • Montesquieu discussed the roles and successes of governments throughout history • He rejected absolute monarchy • In finding the best way to defend liberty, he argued the following • That the various functions of government should be divided into three branches…

20. Three Branches? • He believed that these branches should be: executive, judicial, and legislative. • He also believed that these branches should be able to check and balance each other’s powers • (Yep, this is where America stole the ideas for the constitution from)

21. Voltaire

22. Voltaire: The most famous Philosophe • Famous for saying “My trade, is to say what I think” • He used wit in his writing to expose injustices of the day. • He targeted inequality, injustice and superstition all with his works. • He offended the French government and the catholic church with many of his works.

23. The End of Voltaire • He was eventually imprisoned and forced into exile. • Although many of his books were banned, he continued to defend free speech.

24. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Very Similar to Hobbes and Locke

25. Another Social Contract Theory • He believed that people were inherently good, however their innocence was corrupted by the evils of society. • Rousseau’s Government: • Should be minimal • Should be freely elected • Should uphold the general will • The best conscience of the people

26. Yet Another Metaphor • You will now make another sports metaphor for Rousseau. • You will have 1 minute to prepare your metaphor. • Partners will take turns sharing and questioning each other’s metaphors.

27. A New Economy • French thinkers began applying concepts of natural laws to economics. • These French thinkers are known as the Physiocrats. • The physiocrats rejected the current economic system of mercantilism. • Government regulation of the economy to create a fair balance of trade

28. So what Did they Believe in? • The Physiocrats pushed for a policy of laissez faire economics. • A system where businesses could operate without government interference.