The Enlightenment

Philosophers and Writers Voltaire – Believed in tolerance, reason – Freedom of thought, expression and religious beliefs – Fought against prejudice and superstition Montesquieu – Advocated separation of powers and checks and balances to keep any individual or group from gaining complete control of government

Philosophers and Writers Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Committed to individual freedom – Viewed government as an agreement among free individuals to create a society guided by the “general will” – Unlike other Enlightenment thinkers believed that civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness and destroyed freedom and equality

Philosophers and Writers Cesare Bonesana Beccaria – Believed laws existed to preserve social order – Advocated a criminal justice system based on fairness and reason Mary Wollstonecraft – Believed women, like men needed education to become virtuous and useful – Argued for women’s rights to become educated and to participate in politics

Thomas Hobbes’s and John Locke Hobbes’s Social Contract – Because people always act in their own self interest they need a strong government (social contract) that can keep order and demand obedience Absolute Monarchy is best Locke – People are reasonable being with natural ability to govern themselves – Purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of life, liberty and property

Warm Up What was the Scientific Revolution? What were 3 causes of the Scientific Revolution? Name 3 major scientists from the Scientific Revolution and what they accomplished.