1. ENLIGHTENMENT
THE AGE OF REASON

2. EUROPE CHANGES THE WORLD
Due to Renaissance & Scientific Revolution:
Humanists focus on abilities of humans
Scientists develop new ways of approaching the unknown - observation, experiments, & math
Newton (gravity), Copernicus & Kepler (heliocentric theory, elliptical rotation of planets), Galileo (telescope) & Harvey (circulation of blood)

3. NATURE OF HUMANS: THE BAD
Philosophers question behavior of humans – Natural Laws
THOMAS HOBBES - wrote Leviathon  people are naturally evil & selfish
W/o strong government (absolute power) life would be “nasty, brutish, & short”
People driven by greed
“The condition of man is war-like & government helps keep order”

4. NATURE OF HUMANS: THE GOOD
JOHN LOCKE- wrote Two Treatises of Government  people are reasonable & moral
Best kind of government is one that’s accepted by majority of citizens
“Men are free, equal, & independent”
Ideas influenced US Declaration of Independence & French Revolution
Right to life, liberty, & property

5. FRENCH INFLUENCE
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU - wrote The Spirit of the Laws  greatly respected limited monarch of Britain
3 branches of government powers = protect from tyranny (abuse of power) (U.S. Constitution, French Constitution)
“In order to have liberty, there should be government…power should be a check to power”

6. ENLIGHTENMENT WRITERS
philosophes - “lovers of wisdom”
AROUET (pen name: VOLTAIRE) – used satire (witty sarcasm) to write about abuses in society in book Candide
Freedom of Speech = avoid idealism & improve existence
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

7. ENLIGHTENMENT WRITERS, II
DIDEROT - wrote Encyclopedia (28 volumes)  collected articles regarding all topics: science, politics, economics, slavery, human rights, religion, etc.
Pope threatened to excommunicate Catholics who read it!
Translations helped spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe

8. DOWN WITH MONARCHS!
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU – wrote The Social Contract  people naturally good, but corrupted by evils of society, especially rich v. poor
Freely formed government is not an abuse of power & will of majority must be heard; benefit of many over benefit of few
Government should protect common good
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains…”