The Age of Enlightenment

Also known as “The Age of Reason” Scientific Revolution paved the way as Natural Laws that applied to nature were now Natural Rights that applied to society. Led to discovery of the world outside of Europe and the Columbian Exchange Enlightened philosophers (aka philosophies in French) and writers

Thomas Hobbes The Leviathan publish in 1651. The horrors of the English Civil War convinced him that all humans were naturally selfish and wicked. Without government, people would constantly be fighting amongst themselves. Life without government would be "poor, nasty, brutish, and short." The purpose of government is to ensure peace and security through whatever means necessary.

Thomas Hobbes Government is a contract between citizens and their ruler. In this contract, citizens give up rights for the guarantee of peace and security. Hobbes argued that to escape such a bleak life, people gave up their rights to a strong ruler. In exchange, they gained law and order called this agreement, by which people created government - the social contract The best government is one in which the ruler has absolute power: Absolute Monarchy People never have the right to rebel.

John Locke Government is a contract between citizens and their rulers. The purpose of government is: to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property. to create order in society. Citizens have the right to rebel against a government that does not respect the rights of its citizens. Rulers should stay in power only as long as they have the consent of the people they govern. Locke’s ideas influenced authors of US Declaration of In dependence and French revolutionaries in the 1790s. Locke’s ideas about government are the foundation of modern democracy

John Locke Essay Concerning Human Understanding Every human is born a tabula mind, or blank slate. Nothing is inherited, human knowledge is created by the environment as we experience the world. Foundation for equality We learn from reason By controlling the environment we can create a better world

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet Considered the most important of the enlightenment philosophers Prolific writer; His satire Candide is his most famous work. Fought for tolerance, reason, and freedom of thought, expression, and religious belief Twice imprisoned in the Bastille

Baron d’Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws 1748 believed that “power should be a check to power” Advocated separation of powers and checks and balances to keep any individual or group from gaining complete control of the government. One of the greatest influences on the US Constitution.

Rousseau Swiss philosopher The Social Contract Although born good, people are corrupted by society. Government should be a contract between people, not between the people and a ruler. People should give up some freedom in favor of the General Will of the people. People are equal and have a right to individual freedom.

Beccaria Believed laws existed to preserve social order based his ideas about justice on the principle that governments should seek the greatest good for the greatest number of people Advocated a criminal justice system based on fairness and reason against common abuses of justice such as, torturing of witnesses and suspects, irregular proceedings in trials, and punishments that were cruel

Adam Smith Natural laws govern the economy. Wrote The Wealth of Nations Called for the economic freedom of individuals, by keeping the government from interfering in the economy. Believed an “invisible hand” (the law of supply and demand and competition) would guide the economy.

Mary Wollstonecraft Vindication of the Rights of Women Argued for women’s right to become educated and to participate in politics Believed women, like men, need education to become virtuous and useful.

Denis Diderot Spread enlightened thinking in all areas by publishing the Encyclopedia, a 28 volumes of collected knowledge and the new ideas of the Scientific Revolution and the enlightenment actually a contribution of essays and articles from the different leading scholars of Europe First to use an alphabetical format angered both the French government and the Catholic Church

Questions for Discussion: Voltaire is credited with saying: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.” What does this statement indicate about Voltaire’s views on free speech? How is it similar to beliefs about free speech in the U.S.?

Who’s ideas are most like your own? Hobbes People are selfish, self-serving, and brutal. Without control, society would be chaotic Locke People are reasonable and able to make decisions. People should be able to rule themselves.

1776 In 1776, two famous works were published, Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Smith’s Wealth of Nations. Jefferson’s work is about man’s political independence and Smith’s is about man’s economic freedom and independence. Which do you think has been the most important to the development of the USA? A citizen’s political or economic freedom? Why?