1. The Enlightenment in Europe
Chapter 6
Section 2

2. Main Ideas
A revolution in intellectual activity changed Europeans’ view of government and society.
The various freedoms enjoyed in many countries today are a result of Enlightenment thinking.

3. Introduction New ways of thinking  reevaluating old notions
New insight into underlying beliefs regarding:
Government
Religion
Economics
Education

4. Enlightenment
Enlightenment – intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems.
a/k/a Age of Reason
Reached its height in the mid-1700s.
Changed many aspects of Western civilization

5. Two Views on Government
Hobbes’ Social Contract
Locke’s Natural Rights

6. Hobbes’ Social Contract
Horrors of the English Civil War convinced him that all humans were naturally:
Selfish & Wicked
Governments keep order
Without it  constant war
People needed to hand over rights to a strong ruler (absolute monarch).
They gained law & order, in exchange.
Known as social contract.

7. Locke’s Natural Rights
Believed people could learn from experience and improve themselves.
Criticized absolute monarchy
Favored self-government
People are born equal and free, with three natural rights:
Life
Liberty
Property

8. Natural Rights & Government
Purpose of government
Protect the people’s rights
If government doesn’t do so…
Citizens will overthrow it
Belief that government comes from people is the foundation of modern democracy.

9. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Paris became the meeting place to discuss politics and ideas.
Philosophes = social critics of this period
Apply reason to all aspects of life.

10. Philosophes’ Five Concepts
Five concepts formed the core of their beliefs:
Reason – Truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking
Nature – Natural was good and reasonable
Happiness – Seek well-being on earth
Progress – Society could be perfected
Liberty – Society can be set free

11. Voltaire Combats Intolerance
Used satire against the clergy, aristocrats & government.
Using irony & sarcasm
Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief and freedom of speech
“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

12. Montesquieu & the Separation of Powers
Montesquieu devoted himself to the study of political liberty.
Division of power among branches of government = separation of powers
Also, developed ideas about checks and balances
Both became the basis for the U.S. Constitution

13. Rousseau: Champion of Freedom
Committed to individual freedom
Argued civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness.
Government should be freely formed by the people and guided by the “general will” of society.
Direct Democracy
Rousseau’s ideas inspired many of the leaders of the French Revolution who overthrew the monarchy in 1789.

14. Women and the Enlightenment
Philosophes
Traditional view toward women
Rousseau believed that women should have an education.
HOWEVER, he believed they should be educated on how to be a helpful wife & mother.
Other men scolded women for reading novels.
Wickedness and idleness

15. Discussion Question
What roles are women expected to play in society today?
What about men?
Have the roles changed a lot?

16. Status of Women Mary Astell – writer
Addressed the lack of educational opportunities for women.
Argued for gender equality.
“If all men are born free, how is that all women are born slaves?”

17. Mary Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women
Argued women need education to become virtuous and useful.
Encouraged women to enter male dominated fields – medicine and politics