The Enlightenment in Europe Chapter 6 Section 2

Main Ideas  A revolution in intellectual activity changed Europeans’ view of government and society.  The various freedoms enjoyed in many countries today are a result of Enlightenment thinking.

Introduction  New ways of thinking  reevaluating old notions  New insight into underlying beliefs regarding: Government Religion Economics Education

Enlightenment  Enlightenment – intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems.  a/k/a Age of Reason  Reached its height in the mid- 1700s.  Changed many aspects of Western civilization

Two Views on Government  Hobbes’ Social Contract  Locke’s Natural Rights

Hobbes’ Social Contract  Horrors of the English Civil War convinced him that all humans were naturally: Selfish & Wicked  Governments keep order Without it  constant war  People needed to hand over rights to a strong ruler (absolute monarch). They gained law & order, in exchange. Known as social contract.

Locke’s Natural Rights  Believed people could learn from experience and improve themselves.  Criticized absolute monarchy  Favored self-government  People are born equal and free, with three natural rights: Life Liberty Property

Natural Rights & Government  Purpose of government Protect the people’s rights  If government doesn’t do so… Citizens will overthrow it  Belief that government comes from people is the foundation of modern democracy.

The Philosophes Advocate Reason  Paris became the meeting place to discuss politics and ideas.  Philosophes = social critics of this period  Apply reason to all aspects of life.

Philosophes’ Five Concepts  Five concepts formed the core of their beliefs:  Reason – Truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking  Nature – Natural was good and reasonable  Happiness – Seek well-being on earth  Progress – Society could be perfected  Liberty – Society can be set free

Voltaire Combats Intolerance  Used satire against the clergy, aristocrats & government. Using irony & sarcasm  Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief and freedom of speech  “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Montesquieu & the Separation of Powers  Montesquieu devoted himself to the study of political liberty.  Division of power among branches of government = separation of powers  Also, developed ideas about checks and balances  Both became the basis for the U.S. Constitution

Rousseau: Champion of Freedom  Committed to individual freedom  Argued civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness.  Government should be freely formed by the people and guided by the “general will” of society. Direct Democracy  Rousseau’s ideas inspired many of the leaders of the French Revolution who overthrew the monarchy in 1789.

Women and the Enlightenment  Philosophes Traditional view toward women  Rousseau believed that women should have an education. HOWEVER, he believed they should be educated on how to be a helpful wife & mother.  Other men scolded women for reading novels. Wickedness and idleness

Discussion Question  What roles are women expected to play in society today?  What about men?  Have the roles changed a lot?

Status of Women  Mary Astell – writer Addressed the lack of educational opportunities for women. Argued for gender equality. “If all men are born free, how is that all women are born slaves?”

Mary Wollstonecraft  A Vindication of the Rights of Women  Argued women need education to become virtuous and useful.  Encouraged women to enter male dominated fields – medicine and politics

Legacy of the Enlightenment  Turn to pages in your text.  Read the paragraphs under Legacy of the Enlightenment.  Outline the paragraphs using the following format.  I. Main Heading (Topic) A. Important Fact or Main Idea  1. Supporting detail a. Specific detail