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Age of Reason

Age of Reason. Enlightenment Philosophers. Reason: Enlightenment thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking. Nature: The philosophers believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable.

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Age of Reason

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  1. Age of Reason Enlightenment Philosophers

  2. Reason: Enlightenment thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking. • Nature: The philosophers believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable. • Happiness: The philosophers rejected the medieval notion that people should find joy in the hereafter and urged people to seek well-being on earth. • Progress: The philosophers stressed that society and humankind could improve. • Liberty: The philosophers called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights.

  3. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • England • Leviathan (1651) • People are naturally cruel, greedy, selfish • Life: “nasty, brutish, short” • Social contract • Absolute monarchy

  4. John Locke (1632-1704) • England • Two Treatises of Government (1690) • Natural rights – right to life, liberty, and property • Government has obligation to those governed • Use reason and revolution if necessary • Limited power

  5. Voltaire (1694-1778) • France • Candide • Freedom of speech • Need for change • Against corrupt officials, slavery, religious persecution • “

  6. Montesquieu • France • The Spirit of the Laws (1748) • Separation of powers • Reason and morality are the law • Influenced American government

  7. Rousseau (1712-1778) • France • The Social Contract (1762) • People are naturally good • “general will” • Power lies with the people • democracy

  8. Diderot • France • Encyclopedia • Articles criticizing slavery, divine right • Freedom of expression

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