1. The Enlightenment in Europe (The Age of Reason) Ch. 6.2
A revolution in intellectual activity changes Europeans’ view of government and society.

2. New Ways of Thinking
Scientific Revolution—new way of viewing natural world — based on observation, inquiry
spurs reassessment of many prevailing ideas
Europeans seek insights into society during the 1600s, 1700s and early 1800s
Notions of reason & order moved into other fields.
Leads to the Enlightenment — an intellectual movement stressing reason and thought
- Europeans tried to apply reason & the Scientific Method to laws that shaped human action
*Philosophers & scholars in Europe, began to rethink long-held beliefs about the human condition
Esp. rights & liberties of ordinary citizens

3. Two Views on Government
Hobbes’s Social Contract
Hobbes distrusts humans, favors strong government to keep order
Promotes social contract—getting order by giving power to monarch (as opposed to God giving the King power, the King’s power comes from the people)
Locke’s Natural Rights
Philosopher John Locke says government gets power from the people
Stresses that people have a right to overthrow an unjust government

4. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Beliefs of the Philosophes
The philosophes are French social critics in the mid-1700s
Five main beliefs
Truth by using reason
What is natural is good and reasonable
Acting according to nature can bring happiness
Using a scientific view people and society can make progress, thus leading to a better life
Using reason, people can gain freedom

5. philosophes Montesquieu and the Separation of Powers
Montesquieu—French writer who admires Britain’s government system
Favors separation of powers to keep one body from running government
Rousseau: Champion of Freedom
Rousseau—philosophe who favors individual freedom, direct democracy; civilization corrupts people’s natural goodness
Wanted a society where people are equal
Views social contract as agreement by free people to form government

6. philosophes Voltaire Combats Intolerance
Voltaire—influential philosophe, pen name of François Marie Arouet
Publishes many works arguing for tolerance and reason
fought for freedom of speech and religious belief
Beccaria Promotes Criminal Justice
Italian philosopher Cesare Beccaria works to reform justice system
Calls for speedy trials, greater rights for criminal defendants

7. Women and the Enlightenment
Views on Women’s Education Change
Many Enlightenment thinkers take traditional views of women’s role (a woman’s place in society)
Prominent writer Mary Wollstonecraft urges greater rights for women: “If all men are born free, than why are all women born slaves?:
- argues women need quality education to be virtuous and useful
- urges women to go into traditionally male
professions like politics
Some wealthy women use their status to spread Enlightenment ideas

8. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Role of the Philosophes
The philosophes are not activists, but inspire major revolutions
Belief in Progress
Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society
A More Secular Outlook (non-religious)
New knowledge of the world leads people to question religious ideas
Stressed the importance of the individual

10. Write 3 – 4 sentences for your answer.
How do you think Enlightenment thinkers and writers set the stage for revolutionary movements?

11. The Enlightenment (Age of Reason)