1. The Enlightenment

2. Review At your table groups:
Review Hobbes—what were his views on human nature and government, how did he reach these conclusions?
Review Locke—what were his views on human nature and government, how did he reach these conclusions?

3. Enlightenment
Period called “the Enlightenment” was a new intellectual movement inspired by the scientific revolution
Also known as the Age of Reason
Major influence on the ideas of fairness and equality that underlie the French and American revolutions

4. Paris

5. 1700s Paris Paris becomes the center of learning and ideas in Europe
Philosophes – believed that people could apply logic and reason to all aspects of life

6. Philosophes Five main concepts behind their beliefs
Reason – truth could be discovered through logic or reasoning
Nature – what was natural was also good
Happiness – be happy here and now
Progress – mankind can always improve
Liberty – the French philosophes wanted the same liberties that the English had won through Bill of Rights, etc.

7. Baron de Montesquieu Thought Britain was the best-run country on earth
Well balanced-3 branch government:
King/Queen had executive power
Parliament had legislative power
Courts had judicial power
Came up with the idea of checks and balances
One branch of government doesn’t have too much power – is “checked” by another branch
Basis of United States constitution

8. Rousseau’s View of Human Nature
believed people in their natural state were basically good, but…
…are corrupted by society
“Man is born free, but everywhere he is
in chains”

9. Rousseau’s View on Government
Perfect gov’t/society would be made up of free citizens who formed a government
Individuals determine what common good is and the will of the people would become law
Then individuals give up their rights (self-
interest) in favor of the common good
Similar to Locke, except Rousseau wanted to abolish all noble titles

10. Voltaire Most famous of the French philosophers
Quote: “I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
Favored a strong monarch, and an enlightened monarch

11. From Paris to the world
Paris is still the center of enlightened thought
Ideas start to spread faster through printing of books and meetings in salons
Salon – large drawing rooms at the homes of Parisian society ladies where philosophes would gather to discuss issues and ideas

12. Diderot Writes the first encyclopedia in 1751, called…. Encyclopedia
Expressed a lot of enlightened ideas in articles
Outraged church officials and French government leaders
Diderot continued publishing despite this