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The Enlightenment
The Age of Reason
Enlightenment
Reaches peak in mid-1700s
sparked by Scientific Revolution
apply reason and scientific method to areas outside science (politics, religion, economics, etc.)
Views on Government
Thomas HobbesLeviathanBelieved people are
selfish and evilSocial Contract -
people give up rights to be ruled by strong leader in exchange for law and order
Absolute rulers exist to keep order
John Locke
People have ability to govern themselves
all people are born with 3 natural rights
life liberty property
Locke
Government’s purpose is to protect those rights
Citizens have right to overthrow government if they don’t do their job (James II)
Foundation of modern democracy - gov. comes from people
Philosophes
French Philosophers
Concepts that form core beliefs
1. Reason2. Nature 3. Happiness4. Progress5. Liberty
Voltaire
Used satire to fight church, government, aristocracy
fought for freedom of speech, religion, tolerance, reason
Deism
Baron de Montesquieu
Separation of powers - legislative (Parliament), judicial (courts), and executive (monarch)
Checks and balances “power should be a
check to power”
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Disagreed with other philosophers
Civilization corrupts people’s natural goodness
Only good government is guided by people - direct democracy
Rousseau
Social contract - people create government in order to be a free society
Believed there should be no aristocracy (used in French Revolution)
Cesare Baccaria
Focused on judicial system
Against torture of witnesses and suspects
No arbitrary or cruel punishment
Speedy trialPunishment fits crimeNo capital punishment
Women in the Enlightenment
Mary Wollstonecraft
Encouraged education for women
Women should be involved in politics
Impact of Enlightenment
1. Belief in progress2. More secular (worldly) outlook on life3. Importance of the individual
(individualism)
Leads to: American and French Revolutions
Things to know
While items in red are important to know, we’re stepping it up a bit and you need to be responsible for the other info as well. All items on power points are fair game for quizzes.
You do need to turn in by quiz day a compiled list of definitions of all the items in red. (Include Denis Diderot, Adam Smith)