Chapter 6 Section 2 The Enlightenment in Europe Objective: Analyze the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers & the impact of these ideas Vocabulary: Enlightenment, Social Contract, John Locke, Philosophe, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, & Mary Wollstonecraft What are some responsibilities you have as citizens in the United States? What are some responsibilities that the governmental officials have?

Setting the Stage Scholars & philosophers sought new insight into the underlying beliefs regarding government, religion, economics, & education Enlightenment: 18th century European movement in which thinkers attempt to apply the principles of reason & the scientific method to all aspects of society It is also known as the Age of Reason Thomas Hobbes & John Locke were political thinkers who came to different conclusions about government & human nature Scientific Revolution influenced philosophers to questions the way societies function Who are some Scientist or inventions we learned about during the Scientific Revolution?

Hobbes’s Social Contract Thomas Hobbes believed that all humans were naturally selfish & wicked He believed that without a government to keep order life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, & short Hobbes believed in a social contract (agreement by which people define & limit their individual rights; creating an organized society) He agreed with an absolute monarchy, which could impose order & demand obedience He was living in England at the time during the English Civil War The English Civil War was between King Charles I & who? People need a ruler with total power to keep citizens under control

Locke’s Natural Rights John Locke believed that people could learn from experience & improve themselves Locke believed all people are born free & equal with 3 natural rights (life, liberty, & property) Government needs to protect those rights & if it doesn’t citizens have the right to overthrow it Locke’s theory had a deep influence on modern political thinking What is something you have done wrong in the past & learned from that experience? He believed people had the natural ability to govern their own affairs Locke hated the idea of absolute monarchs & favored self governing

The Philosophes Advocate Reason Philosophes – group of social thinkers in Paris, France during the Enlightenment They believed in 5 core concepts Reason: truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking Nature: what was natural was also good & reasonable Happiness: people should seek well- being on earth Progress: society & humankind could improve Liberty: liberties in society Paris became the meeting place for people who wanted to discuss politics & ideas French word for philosophers

Voltaire Combats Intolerance Voltaire published 70 books of political essays, philosophy, & drama He made enemies with the French court & was sent to prison Voltaire never stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, & freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it” He often wrote poorly of the French clergy, aristocracy, & government He was exiled to England for 2 years

Montesquieu & the Separation of Powers Baron de Montesquieu devoted himself to the study of political liberty He believe that Britain was the best-governed & politically balanced country Montesquieu proposed that separation of powers would keep any individual or group from gaining total control of the government Provided the basis of checks & balances in the United States What kind of government does England have? Who is the power shared between? How is our government divided?

Rousseau Champion of Freedom Jean Jacques Rousseau was passionately committed to individual freedom Rousseau believed that the social contract was an agreement among free individuals to create a society & a government He argued that all people were equal & that titles of nobility should be abolished He was a son of a poor Swiss watchmaker People give up some of their freedom in favor of the common good

Beccaria Promotes Criminal Justice Beccaria believed that laws existed to preserve social order & not to avenge crimes He believed that people should receive a speedy trial & torture should never be used Beccaria believed the degree of punishment should be based on the seriousness of the crime He wanted capital punishment to be abolished. What is capital punishment?

Women & the Enlightenment Women writers tried to improve the status of women Women used enlightenment arguments about government to criticize the unequal relationship between men & women Mary Wollstonecraft argued with Rousseau & also urged women to enter fields of medicine & politics Rousseau believed women should be learning how to be a good wife & mother However, some men did argue to improve women’s status Why would men hesitate to give women education & equality under the law? “if all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves”

Legacy of the Enlightenment Philosophes formed & popularized new theories However, they were not active revolutionaries Enlightenment thinking produced long-term effects that helped shape Western civilization The belief in progress gave people the confidence that human reason could solve social problems Reformers also urged for greater social equality What do you think they wanted to change to encourage social equality?

A More Secular Outlook The Enlightenment paved the way for the rise of a more secular or non-religious outlook People believed the mysteries of the world could be explained mathematically A major outcome of the Enlightenment was encouraging people to use their own ability to reason in order to judge what was right or wrong