Chapter 2: The Enlightenment Section 1: The Reformation and Philosophy in the Age of Reason

The Protestant Reformation Church began to lose power in 1500’s due to democratic advances and scandal. Protestant: “one who protests” Reform: change Led by Martin Luther, a German monk, many Europeans began to break away from the Church. Started a new branch of Christianity: Lutheranism

The Anglican Church Church of England est. 1533 by King Henry VIII. Broke away from the Church and started his own church so he could get a divorce- and went on to have 6 wives. Conflicts between Catholics and Protestants continue today!

I. The Scientific Revolution 1500s-1600s Changed view of the world after the “darkness” of the Middle Ages. Natural Law: rules discovered by reason. Ex: gravity, magnetism, heliocentric theory

The Scientific Revolution 1700s- Philosophers used reason to better understand people and society. This was called “The Enlightenment”

II. Hobbes and Locke Thomas Hobbes and John Locke British philosophers Had different ideas about government and human nature.

A. Thomas Hobbes Social contract: People give up their freedom in exchange for an organized society. Wrote The Leviathan: a state must be governed by an absolute leader (monarch).

B. John Locke Believed people are born with natural rights: life, liberty, and property. Wrote The Two Treatises of Government: the best government is one that is accepted by the people and has limited power.

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New Economic Thinking Mercantilism: The government regulates all of the economy to regulate trade and balance (to be wealthy). There is a set amount of wealth in the world, and the country with the most is the the richest.

New Economic Thinking Laissez-faire economics: “Leave it alone” Adam Smith: wrote The Wealth of Nations. Gov’t should not interfere with economy at all- they are separate. Law of supply and demand is the “Invisible Hand” that controls the economy. There is no set amount of wealth. Countries can create wealth by changing their economies.

Spread of Enlightenment Ideas Spread to the Americas, around Europe. Church and monarchs tried to censor philosophers’ works by jailing them or burning books.

New “Enlightened Despots” Despot = ruler Frederick II of Prussia Catherine the Great of Russia Joseph II of Austria Accepted new Enlightenment ideas, but would not give up absolute power.