1. The Enlightenment
AKA The Age of Reason
European thinkers developed new ideas about government and society during the Enlightenment.
The Enlightenment 2012

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRGIFIBcQk 11:02 Women of Salons
15:22 All about the Enlightenment
11:02
Women of Salons
The Enlightenment 2012

3. What exciting conclusion did philosophers reach during the Enlightenment?
Answer: Reason could be used to solve all human problems.
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

4. An Overview of the 18th Century
Political History >>> Reform
Intellectual History   Reason
Cultural History  Individualism
Social History  Increased Literacy  “Age of Aristocracy”
Economic History > Mercantilism to Capitalism
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

5. 18th Century Politics BRITAIN – Constitutional Monarchy
FRANCE  Royal Absolutism
PRUSSIA, HABSBURG EMPIRE, RUSSIA  “Enlightened Despotism”
OTTOMAN EMPIRE – traditional empire
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

6. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Scientific successes convinced educated Europeans of the power of HUMAN REASON
If reason worked for the physical world, then why not use it for NATURAL LAWS
Laws explaining human behavior
Solve the problems of society
The Enlightenment 2012

7. Religion
Deism
Belief in the existence of a God or supreme being but denial of organized religion, basing one’s belief on nature and reason.
Saw no point in any particular religion; recognized only a distant God, uninvolved in daily life of man.
Invisible watchmaker
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

8. The “Enlightened” Individual The Philosophe
Students of society who analyzed its evils and advanced reforms.
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

9. Traditions and Superstitions
The “Great Debate”
Reason & Logic
Traditions and Superstitions
rationalism
empiricism
tolerance
skepticism
Deism
nostalgia for the past
Organized religions
irrationalism
emotionalism
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

10. SOCIAL CONTRACT
THOMAS HOBBES
Wrote Leviathan
People are naturally cruel, greedy, selfish
Need to be strictly controlled
Social Contract- people give up state of nature for organized society.
Need a powerful government
The Enlightenment 2012

11. SOCIAL CONTRACT JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)
Wrote TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT
People are basically reasonable and moral
Natural Rights- life, liberty and property
Government to protect natural rights
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

12. Comparing Hobbes and Locke
Absolute monarchy best
People need government to impose order
People selfish, greedy
Should exchange some freedoms for peace, safety, order
Social contract
Thomas Hobbes
Government should protect people’s natural rights
Monarchs not chosen by God
Government by consent
Power limited by laws
Foundation for modern democracy
John Locke
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

13. SEPARATION OF POWERS BARON de MONTESQUIEU Wrote THE SPIRIT OF THE LAWS
Liked Britain’s limited monarchy
Separation of powers allows each branch to check against power of others
legislative, executive, judicial
The Enlightenment 2012

14. ROUSSEAU People’s natural innocence is corrupted by evils of society
As civilizations progress they move away from morality
Believed in limited governmental control
Good of the community above individual interests-General Welfare
Individual is subordinate to the community
The Enlightenment 2012

15. MORE ROUSSEAU Wrote “Social Contract” - argued for direct democracy.
Inspiration for leaders of French Revolution
Praised the NOBLE SAVAGE - primitive man unspoiled by terrible things like education and society
The Enlightenment 2012

16. VOLTAIRE Social critic Reform society by attacking corrupt officials
Saw nature as the work of God and man as the product of nature
Sought to set man free from orthodox Christian views
Fought superstition, ignorance
Struggled for justice, toleration, liberty
The Enlightenment 2012

17. DIDEROT “Encyclopedia” – compile all human knowledge in one work
Sought to change general way of thinking
Denounced slavery, attacked divine right, attacked traditional religions
35 volumes, 27 years’ work
Helped spread ideas of the Enlightenment
The Enlightenment 2012

18. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT Feminist declaration of independence
“Vindication of the Rights of Woman”
Feminist declaration of independence
Liberal doctrine of inalienable human rights applied to women
She was attacked for her views
The Enlightenment 2012

19. ECONOMICS
Adam Smith
The Wealth of Nations - free market to regulate business
Supply and demand
Laissez faire- little government interference in business
Free economic rein would aid the welfare of all-”invisible hand”
Bourgeoisie supported, justified greed
The Enlightenment 2012

20. Enlightenment Ideas Spread Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russia
The spirit of optimism quickly spread throughout Europe. A few monarchs became enlightened despots, changing their systems of government and ruling according to Enlightenment ideas.
Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russia
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

21. Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Writers, philosophers questioned ideas long held as truth
Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies
Questioned relationship between church and sate
Debated rules and rights of people in society
Promoted ideas reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change society
Belief in progress spurred reforms
Believed reason could solve any problem, debated ways to make society more just
Did not accept poverty, ignorance, inequality as facts of life
Reforms
Ideas about power, authority inspired American and French Revolutions
Colonists strongly influenced by political views of Locke, Rousseau
Revolutions
The Enlightenment 2012
Enlightenment 2012

22. You are on a life boat that can hold only 12 people, but 15 people have crammed on.
What would you do if you were:
Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau