1. The Age of Enlightenment Notes

2. Overview – Restate it
During the late 1600s and 1700s in Europe, well-educated people known as Philosophers (“philosophes” in French) met in French salons and English drawing rooms to discuss political, economic, social, and religious questions. Their discussions helped shape the capitalistic democratic world that we live in today. Because this period was a time of high intellect and new ideas, historians have called it the “Age of Enlightenment” or “Age of Reason.”

3. Overview – Restate it
During the late 1600s and 1700s in Europe, well-educated people known as Philosophers (“philosophes” in French) met in French salons and English drawing rooms to discuss political, economic, social, and religious questions. Their discussions helped shape the capitalistic democratic world that we live in today. Because this period was a time of high intellect and new ideas, historians have called it the “Age of Enlightenment” or “Age of Reason.”

4. Let’s get rid of old Medieval Ideas!
The Enlightenment
New Ways of Thinking
Scientific Revolution spurs rethinking of many ideas
Apply reason and natural law
Leads to the Enlightenment
A movement stressing reason and thought

5. Thomas Hobbes – “Social Contract”
English philosopher
Distrusts humans, favors strong government to keep order
Promotes Social Contract
Getting order by giving absolute power to monarch
Examples today?
Wrote Leviathan (1651) where he argued all humans are naturally selfish and wicked.

6. Locke’s Natural Rights
Born in England
People have Natural Rights
Life, Liberty, Property
John Locke says government gets power from the people
People create a government by an agreement called a Social Contract
Stresses that people have the right to overthrow an unjust government

7. Philosophes Advocate Reason
Beliefs of the Philosophes
French social critics
Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, liberty
Voltaire
Influential Philosophe
Used a fake name: Francis Marie Arouet
Criticized the corruption in the French govt.
Distrusted democracy, believed philosophical monarchs should rule (Who is this similar to that we have learned about?)
Fought for civil rights and a balance of power and taxes between the rich and poor.
Wanted freedom of thought and religion

8. Baron de Montesquieu French philosopher
Believed that any group in power will try to increase its power
Governments need to be controlled
Governments need separation of powers
Balance of power
three branches of government
Checks and balances

9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher
Favors individual freedom, direct democracy
Government formed by people
Social Contract is between citizens to form government
The only legitimate government is one that is created by citizens
People should be trusted to use their conscience to vote for the good of the entire community

10. Cesare Beccaria Works to reform justice system
Calls for speedy trials, greater rights for criminals
Banning torture

11. Simon Bolivar A Venezuelan General Influenced by Locke and Rousseau
Nicknamed the “Liberatador” and the “George Washington of South America.”
Influenced to create a rebellion based on John Locke’s “consent of the governed”
Helped win the freedom of South America from Spanish rulers

12. Adam Smith Scottish Philosopher
Defended the ideas of free economy, or free markets
Economic liberty guaranteed economic progress.
CAPITALISM!!
Governments should not interfere with markets
Natural Laws of Economics:
Law of self interest
People work for their own good
Law of competition
Competition forces better products
Law of supply and demand
If supply exceeds demand, the price will go down

13. Women and the Enlightenment
Many Enlightenment thinkers take traditional view on women
Mary Wollstonecraft wants more rights for women
Need of quality education
Wants women in male professions like politics
Writings about inequalities
Some wealthy women use status to spread Enlightenment ideas
Social gatherings called salons

14. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Role of Philosophes
Not activists, but inspire major revolutions
Belief in Progress
Scientific breakthroughs show ability to improve society
More Secular Outlook
New knowledge leads people to question religion
Criticism of Christianity
Importance of the Individual
More emphasis on rights and abilities
Reason becomes main concept or philosophers, rulers