OPENER Define “Humanism” Define “Secular”

Humanism: an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural ways of understanding. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems. Secular: denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.

ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS APPLYING REASON AND SCIENCE TO SOCIAL ISSUES

AGREE OR DISAGREE? Humans are naturally good Without government, the world would be chaotic The purpose of government is to protect the citizens’ rights Giving up some rights to maintain order is a good idea If the people do not agree with government, then they have the right to rebel and demand change It is important that power be separated, and not given to one person It is important that all people should be free and equal, without social classes and hierarchies Education is necessary to be a good person, and all people should receive an education Traditional marriage roles are important to maintain order People know best how to govern their own affairs, not the government

Machiavelli “The Prince” 1513 Wollstonecraft “Rights of Women” 1792 Hobbes “Leviathan” Locke “Two Treatise On Government” 1690 Montesquieu “The Spirit of the Laws” 1748 Rousseau “The Social Contract” 1762

NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI ( ) Italian Diplomat Against Medici family rule Wrote “The Prince” Rulers should appear merciful, but rule with an iron fist A strong king is needed to maintain order Order is more important than ‘rights’ of the people “It is far safer to be feared, than loved”

THOMAS HOBBES ( ) English Philosopher Lived through English Civil War which ended with the beheading of King Charles I Wrote “Leviathan” In the state of nature, humans are all equal, but no laws to ensure order People give up their rights to a strong ‘sovereign’ (king) to maintain peace and order - they have no right to revolt Without strong rule, you get war, which means nobody is happy In the state of nature, life is: “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

JOHN LOCKE ( ) English Scientist and Professor Disagreed with Hobbes Wrote “Two Treatises on Government” In nature, the rights of life, liberty, and property were natural, and could not be taken away by anybody Kings didn’t have absolute power; they were there to protect the rights of the people If kings did not protect people, then the people had a right to revolt Only people with property should participate in government “All mankind… being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or property”

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU ( ) French Philosopher Lived under reign of Louis XIV Ridiculed the King and the Catholic Church Wrote “The Spirit of the Laws” War between individuals and nations led to laws and governments Government is there to maintain order, and to protect liberty and property Believed that power should be separated (Three branches) “If the legislative and executive authorities are one institution, there will be no freedom”

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU ( ) Swiss Philosopher Traveled much Wrote “The Social Contract” Life in nature is free and happy - property results in inequality and war People should not give up rights to king Direct democracy was the best - people are sovereign Religion divided and weakened the state “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT ( ) English Writer and Philosopher The ‘Mother of Feminism’ Wrote “A Vindication on the Rights of Women” Women should receive the same education as men Women need to be educated to be good mothers and wives, but also to be good people and not just obedient servants Wrote against ideas that women were just there to be pretty and to please their husbands “The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be contested without danger.”