THE ENLIGHTENMENT

MAIN IDEA: Thinkers during the "Age of Reason" or simply the Enlightenment, in England, France, and throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change. The Enlightenment produced many books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars, and revolutions including the American and French Revolutions.

THE AGE OF REASON: The scientific revolution convinced many European thinkers about the power of reason and thought. With the power of reason and the scientific method, many scientific discoveries had been made. Could reason be used to study human nature as well?

THE AGE OF REASON CONTINUED... In the 1600's, a new generation of philosophers began to view reason as the best way to understand truth. The said that reason could be used to solve all human problems. What/Who is being rejected or forgotten about? This was a time of great excitement, optimism, and possibility. The age of reason, or enlightenment was born!

ENLIGHTENMENT VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT... Enlightenment thinkers wanted to improve human living conditions. The first area that was examined was the organization of government. Major influences include Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu. The ideas of these men highly influenced who?

THOMAS HOBBES... Thomas Hobbes: English thinker who in 1651 wrote book entitled Leviathan. His experience of the English Civil War made him feel that "man was selfish and greedy, and in his natural state would lead lives that were solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." He believed people needed government to impose order. Said that people would give up certain freedoms to a strong leader in exchange for the peace, safety, and order that government could provide. This exchange between government and society is known as the social contract.

JOHN LOCKE Believed that people were naturally tolerant, happy, and reasonable. Said that ALL people were born equal with the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. Purpose of gov't was to protect people's natural rights Wrote "Two Treatises on Government". He believed if a gov't failed to protect natural rights, the people have the right to overthrow it. This belief became the foundation for modern democracy. This belief inspired the American Revolution.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU... French philosopher, believed that people are basically born good. Believed that society corrupted people. In "The Social Contract", he wrote, "man is born free but everywhere is in chains." Gov't should work for the common good, not the wealthy few. He despised inequality. Said that all people were equal and should be recognized as equal in society.

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU... French thinker, argued that the best form of gov't included a separation of powers. by dividing powers among government, this would prevent any individual or group from abusing its power. He developed system of checks and balances.

NEW VIEWS ON SOCIETY... While some Enlightenment thinkers focused on government, others focused their attention on issues within society such as religious tolerance, women's rights, and economic systems.

VOLTAIRE... French philosopher, whose name was Francois-Marie Arouet. He wrote under the name Voltaire. He attacked injustice wherever he saw it, among the nobility, in government, and in the church. He was imprisoned twice and exiled to England for two years. Despite making enemies, Voltaire continued the struggle for justice, religious toleration, an liberty during his entire life.

DIDEROT… By the mid 1700’s, the great expansion of human knowledge convinced French philosophe Denis Diderot to compile it all into a single work, the Encyclopedia. The extensive 28 volume work explained new ideas about art, science, government, and religion. Its purpose was to promote knowledge. The Encyclopedia took 27 years to complete. French leaders attacked the work because it criticized the church, the government, and the legal system. When the government tried to stop its production, Diderot published the remaining volumes in secret. The Encyclopedia was an immediate success and helped spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe and later North America.

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT Enlightenment thinkers questioned many established beliefs in government and the church, but held to traditional beliefs when it came to the roles of women in society. Many believed that women’s proper roles were as wives and mothers, and that women should receive only enough education to prepare them for those roles. Mary Wollstonecraft rejected this idea. The English writer demanded equal rights for women, especially in education, which was a radical view in her time. In 1792, she wrote A Vindication of the rights of woman. In this, she argued that if men and women had equal education, they would be equal in society.

ADAM SMITH… Scottish economist, used reason to analyze economic systems. Wrote Wealth of Nations in In this book, he argued that business activities should take place in a free market. He believed strongly in laissez-faire economics which is an economic system free of government regulations. Laissez-faire means “leave alone”. He believed that the economy would be stronger if the market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely.