Chapter 17, Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason The Scientific Revolution changed the way people looked at the world See a problem? Change it!!! Edward Jenner developed vaccine against smallpox – one of the worst killers in history Scientific Success = power of human reason NATURAL LAW = rules discoverable by reason: Gravity Magnetism

NOW …..Use Natural Law to understand social, economic and political problems Solve the problems of society This Revolution in thinking = THE ENLIGHTENMENT Thomas Hobbes & John Locke – Seventeenth century English thinkers Ideas become Key to the Enlightenment Very different views on human nature & role of government

Thomas Hobbes – People are naturally cruel, greedy & selfish Must be strictly controlled or they rob, fight & oppress People must enter a SOCIAL CONTRACT = give up freedom for organized society Absolute Monarch necessary “The Life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Thomas Hobbes

John Locke – People are basically reasonable & moral Had NATURAL RIGHTS that belonged to all humans from birth: life, liberty, property Government formed to protect natural rights Government must be limited & accepted by all people Government obligated to people – people have right to overthrow the government Ideas to influence American Revolution: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson & James Madison Locke’s ideas of revolution eventually spread across Europe and Latin America

1700s - Enlightenment thinkers in France= PHILOSOPHES Use of reason could lead to reforms in government, law & society Ideas spread all across Europe & beyond The Big Four Philosophes: 1.Montesquieu 2.Voltaire 3.Diderot 4.Rousseau What do they believe……………….?????

Montesquieu - Advances idea of Separation of Powers Sharp criticism of absolute monarchy 1748 – published The Spirit of the Laws Discussed governments throughout history Best way to protect liberty = divide functions & powers into three branches Legislative, executive, judicial Creates checks & balances Ideas helped create the United States Constitution

Voltaire - Defends Freedom of Thought Most famous of the philosophes “My trade is to say what I think.” Voltaire Used biting wit – exposed abuses of his day Targeted corrupt officials, idle aristocrats With pen – battled inequality, injustice, superstitions, the slave trade & religious prejudice Outspoken – offended French government & Catholic Church Imprisoned – forced into exile His books, outlawed & burned Never gave up his beliefs To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize. To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize. Voltaire

Diderot – Edits the Encyclopedia Produced 28-volume set of books – the Encyclopedia Included articles by thinkers such as Montesquieu & Voltaire to “change the general way of thinking” Denounced slavery, praised freedom of expression, urged education for all Attacked divine-right theory & traditional religions Church threatened to excommunicate Catholics who read or bought it More than 4,000 copies, Translated & ideas spread all over Europe & Americas

Rousseau – promotes The Social Contract Believed people were naturally good Corrupted by evils of society – especially inequality 1762 – wrote The Social Contract Government control should be minimal Governments must be freely elected Good of community above good of individual Hatred of all forms of political oppression Fanned flames of revolt

Women challenge the Philosophes Enlightenment slogan – “free & equal” – did not apply to women! Women limited to areas of home & family Germaine de Stael, France Catharine Macaulay & Mary Wollstonecraft, Britain Argued that women were excluded from social contract They were ridiculed & condemned Wollstonecraft - accepted woman’s first duty to be good mother Should be able to make own decisions not depend on husband Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Equal education for girls – need to participate equally w/men in public life

French thinkers – Physiocrats – focused on economic reforms Laissez Faire replaces Mercantilism Rejected Mercantilism which required government to regulate economy to achieve favorable balance of trade Urged policy of laissez faire – allowing business to operate with little or no government interference Supported free trade – opposed tariffs

Scottish Economist Adam Smith argues for a Free Market Wrote The Wealth of Nations – argued that the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity Wages, trade, profits all tied to market forces of Supply & Demand Wherever there is a demand for goods or services suppliers would try to meet that demand in order to make profits Supported laissez faire but felt government should protect society, administer justice, and provided public works His ideas helped shape economies in the 1800s and 1900s.