The Enlightenment A new view of society

The Enlightenment What: 1600’s marks the beginning of intellectual period known as the Enlightenment –Reached peak in mid-1700’s Importance: Enlightenment raised new ideas which helped launch the French & American Revolutions Why: Developed from the ideas of Scientific Revolution

Philosophers influenced by Science Philosophers admired Isaac Newton Newton used REASON & LOGIC to explain nature

The Philosophes Social critics who applied reason and logic to life: (political, religion, social equality, etc...) Launched “age of reason” known as the Enlightenment

Rousseau Montesquieu John Locke “Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains” “Power should be a check to power” “all men have certain natural rights: The right to life, liberty and property”

Mary Wollstonecraft Led fight for equal rights for women in England Compared: Kings rule over society Husbands rule over Wives

Denis Diderot Encyclopedia Book of Philosophe views First Volume in 1751 Published the

Concepts of Philosophes Reason –Truth could be discovered through reason and logic Nature –natural laws of both politics & economics Happiness –live by nature’s laws Progress –believed you could perfect society Liberty –Believed in personal freedom

Conflict Philosophes faced arrest and were often under pressure from both the government (kings) and the church Their ideas challenged monarchies

Philosophe Handout