The Enlightenment The Age of Reason

Path to the Enlightenment The Enlightenment was a 18th century philosophical movement built on the achievements of the Scientific Revolution. Enlightenment philosophers hoped to make a better society by applying the scientific method and the use of reason to social problems. Enlightenment philosophers said society was governed by natural laws just like the universe which Newton described.

General Enlightenment Beliefs 1. Reason should be used at all times. 2. The search for new knowledge should always continue. 3. Prisoners should not be tortured. Justice systems should improve. 4. Slavery and warfare should be done away with. 5. Freedom of religion, speech, and press should be enjoyed by all. 6. Everyone deserves liberty and equality. 7. There should be public education for all, not just the rich.

Philosophes and Their Ideas Philosophe – French for philosopher. They wanted to improve the world through rational criticism of beliefs in all areas. They opposed special privileges for the rich, and divine right rulers. They opposed slavery, torture, religious persecution, and censorship. Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Montesquieu are the best known philosophers.

John Locke People are born with a tabula rosa, or blank slate. All people are equal. The right influence and environment for the young could create a new way of understanding and lead to a better society. People are born with natural rights. Life, liberty, and property People have the right to choose their government. Social Contract. Government gets the right to rule from the people. Citizens have the right to overthrow a government that violates their natural rights. John Locke

Charles-Louis de Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws (1748) Studied governments to find natural laws governing social and political relationships. Identified 3 types of government – republics, despotism, and monarchies. Absolute rulers limit basic rights like the freedoms of speech, press, and religion. All nations should decrease their military to reduce the threat of war. Separation of Powers Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches Checks and Balances One branch should not have total power. Charles-Louis de Baron de Montesquieu

Francois-Marie Arouet, (Voltaire) Criticized Christianity. Religious myths and ceremonies do nothing to make man better and should be ignored. Believe only those things about God that are based on reason and common sense. Deism The world is like a clock. God created it and left it alone to run according to natural laws without his intervention. “Clockwork Universe.” The scientist is more important than the conquering general.

Social Contract (1762) - members of a society agree to be governed by the general will of the people. Emile – education should nurture, not restrict children’s natural instincts. Compared to man in the stone age, modern man is unhappy, insecure, and greedy. Social and political reform must be made before man can become a good person. Jean Jacques Rousseau

Denis Diderot Encyclopedia (1751) 28 volumes Argued for religious toleration and social improvements to make society more humane.

Adam Smith Adam Smith – Wealth of Nations (1776) Scottish economist “Invisible Hand” – prices set by supply and demand. Government has three functions Protect society from invasion Defend the society from crime Maintain public works Adam Smith

Physiocrats Group of French Economists who believed that the wealth of nations comes from the value of "land agriculture" or "land development." Their emphasis was on productive work as the source of national wealth… Laissez-faire – (“let the people do”) Governments should not interfere with economic choices through regulation. *HANDS OFF*

Mary Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women She is considered the founder of the European and American women’s rights movements. Mary Wollstonecraft

John Wesley Began Methodism. Preached that the gift of God’s grace was the way to salvation. Stressed the importance of good works. Helped lead the “Great Awakening” in the American Colonies. John Wesley

The Enlightenment took the tools of the Scientific Revolution and applied them to society. The ideals of the Enlightenment led to the American and French Revolutions which changed the world. Conclusion