1. Absolutism & Enlightenment

2. Scientific Revolution
Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about the power of reason
countless discoveries about physical world
Copernicus ( ):advanced heliocentric theory
Galilei ( ): improved telescope
Newton ( ): gravity

3. The Age of Reason
BIG Q from Scientific Rev---Could reason be used to study human nature and society as well?
1600s, a new generation of philosophers began to view reason as the best way to understand truth

4. The Enlightenment
This exciting time of optimism and possibility is now called the Enlightenment (Age of Reason)
Traditional ways (Absolutism) no longer work!
Intellectual movement that argued reason could be used to understand humanity, solve problems
Ideas inspired educated people throughout Europe and beyond
people gathered in public to debate
writers published their ideas
Enlightenment reached its peak in the 1700s

5. New Views on Government
Looking for ways to improve human condition
examined the organization of government

6. Thomas Hobbes
Wrote about his views on government in his book, Leviathan
Experience of violence and upheaval of the English civil war persuaded him that people were selfish and greedy
People would lead lives that were “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

7. Thomas Hobbes
People need governments to impose order, as they are naturally EVIL!
Give up some freedoms to a strong leader in exchange for peace, safety, and order that government could provide
Absolute monarchy was best
centralized power could be used to impose law and order

8. John Locke English philosopher
Believed people were naturally happy, tolerant, and reasonable
All people born equal with natural rights
life, liberty, & property***
Purpose of government is to protect people’s natural right

9. John Locke Monarchs are not chosen by God
People consented to the government, whose power was limited by laws
Democracy is best government
Two Treatises of Government

10. John Locke
People have the right to overthrow the government if it fails to protect natural rights
Became a foundation for modern democracy

11. Importance of fairness of law
“Those who are united into one body, and have a common established law and judicature [court system] to appeal to, with authority to decide controversies between them, and punish offenders, are in civil society one with another …”
—John Locke, Two Treatises on Government, 1690

12. Philosophes
French philosophers who believed that the use of reason could lead to reforms of government, law & society
Rousseau
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Diderot

13. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher
People were born good, but society corrupts
The Social Contract
“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”
Government should work for the benefit of the common good, not for the wealthy few

14. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
SOCIAL CONTRACT
Individuals should give up some of their freedoms for the benefit of the community as a whole---isn’t that how the U.S. works?
Despised inequality in society
All people were equal and should be recognized as so in society
Direct democracy is the ideal form of government

15. Baron de Montesquieu French thinker Separation of powers
prevents any individual or group from abusing its power

16. Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws
admiration of Britain’s government because powers were divided into branches
Parliament (legislative)
made laws
King and advisers (executive)
carried out laws
Court system (judicial)
interpreted laws

17. Baron de Montesquieu
Had actually misunderstood the structures of the British government→ led him to a rational conclusion:
separation of powers allowed each branch to serve as a check against the power of the others
checks and balances

18. Voltaire One of the most outspoken French philosophers
Attacked injustice, inequality & superstition, mainly targeting the Church
Sharp wit created enemies
imprisoned twice
later exiled to England for two years
Continued the struggle for justice, religious toleration, and liberty throughout his life
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

19. Diderot and the Encyclopedia
French philosopher
Expansion of human knowledge convinced him to compile it all into a single work
28 volumes
explained new ideas about art, science, government & religion
Promotion of knowledge
27 years, publishing last volume in 1772

20. Diderot and the Encyclopedia
Attacked by French leaders because it criticized the church, government, and legal system
Government tried to stop publication in 1759, and Diderot completed the remaining volumes in secret
Immediate success
helped spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe and to North America

21. Mary Wollstonecraft
Though many thinkers questioned established beliefs, they usually held traditional views about women
proper roles were as wives and mothers
should only receive enough education to prepare them for those roles
Wollstonecraft rejected this
demanded equal rights for women, especially in education
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
if men and women had equal education, they would be equal in society

22. Adam Smith Scottish economist The Wealth of Nations 1776
Argued that business activities should take place in a free market
Strong believer in laissez-faire economics
system that worked without government regulation
“leave alone”

23. New Views on Society & the spread of the Enlightenment

24. Ideas Spread, but face resistance
Most government & church authorities felt they had sacred duty to defend the “old order”
God set it up in the 1st place
War of Censorship
restricting access to ideas and information
Ban, burn books
Voltaire & others disguised their works as fiction to avoid censorship

25. Enlightenment Ideas Spread
What is that >
Coffee Shop...Modern Day Salons!
Informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophes & others exchanged ideas
SPREAD OF IDEAS

26. Enlightenment & Music Elegant style emerged Classical Music
Ballets & Operas
Johann Sebastian Bach
German Lutheran, composed religious pieces for organs, choirs, violoins & harpsicords
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Child prodigy, produced over 600 pieces of music, died in poverty at age 35
Bach- (#4, 3:23)
Mozart- (#8, 2:27)
(8:05)

27. Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Quickly spread throughout Europe to Prussia, Russia, Austria, etc.
Many philosophers appealed directly to European monarchs for change
a few developed a system of government in which they ruled according to Enlightenment ideas
enlightened despots (refer to definition)

28. Frederick II, King of Prussia (1740-1786)
Believed it was his duty to rule with absolute power in order to build Prussia’s strength
also strongly influenced by the ideas of Voltaire
Tried to establish elementary education, abolished torture, supported most religious tolerance, reduced censorship
tried to limit number of Jews that could live in Prussia
Not just to achieve justice, but also to build strength and make his own rule more powerful

29. Catherine II, Russia
Dreamed of establishing order and justice while supporting education and culture
Actually corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot
Drafted Russian constitution and code of laws, but were considered too liberal and never put into practice
Intended to free the serfs (would lose support of wealthy landowners)
No intentions of giving up power and became a tyrant
Actually imposed serfdom on more Russians than ever before

30. Joseph II, Austria
Became emperor in 1780, embarked on ambitious reform program
Eliminated torture and death penalty
Provided free food and medicine for poor citizens
Catholic, but granted religious tolerance to Protestants and Jews
Most significant: abolished serfdom
Resisted by the nobility and the church
forced Joseph to revoke some reforms shortly before his death in 1790

31. Later Influence Would later spur many generations to enact reforms
Instead of accepting poverty, ignorance and inequality as part of the human condition, people debated new ways of making society more just
Inspired reforms and revolutions...