1. Enlightenment Influenced by Scientific Revolution
The Enlightenment was "Mankind's final coming of age, the emancipation of the human
consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error."
Influenced by Scientific Revolution
Before superstition explained everything
Science to understand Natural World
Gravity, Chemistry, Medicine
Characteristics
1. Cause and effect for everything
2. Rationalism
Truth through reason
"Age of Reason"
3. Natural laws
Deism

2. If Science can help explain world( physical laws)
Why not use them to discover Natural Laws
laws that govern human nature
Every social, political, and economic problem could be solved through the use of Science and reason.
Who has a say in social, political, and economic?

3. First Enlightened thinkers
Thomas Hobbes wrote book called Leviathan
People lived in anarchy
Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.
To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract.
Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.
Believed only an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY could keep a society completely orderly.
In turn people give up control to protect life

5. John Locke
Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good
Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property
People form governments to protect natural rights
LIFE LIBERTY and ESTATES
Best government was one with limited power
 If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government!!! 

7. Ideas explode in France (Absolute Monarchy)
Philosophes - Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, liberty
Critics of the world
Wrote ideas and thoughts down
Denis Diderot
“From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.”
Encyclopedia
Reference on enlighten ideas
from slavery, torture, war ect.
Spread Ideas across the Europe
Salons
place to be critic of world powers
Determined in mid-1700s to try to compile great expansion of human knowledge into a single work

8. Baron de Montesquieu –Power should be a check on power
Anti Divine Right – liked Britain's government
Perfect government through natural
laws
3 branches of Government
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
Branches based on Checks and Balances
STAR02621

9. “It is dangerous to be right
Voltaire
“It is dangerous to be right
when the government is wrong.”
Used Satire
Prison time
fought against intolerance and
injustice
mostly religious and government
"Think for yourselves and
let others enjoy the privilege
to do so too."
”Judge a person by their questions
not their answers”

10. Environment makes them bad (professions and
Jean Jacques Rousseau
History repeats itself in societies
Social Contract
people born good
Environment makes them bad (professions and
Private property) “Man is born free and everywhere
He is in Chains”
“General Will” –traces of all citizens will (Direct Democracy)
To maintain good = people must control
and choose government
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

11. Cesare Bonesana Beccaria
Laws = social order
Not revenge
Speedy trial, justice not torture
Degree of punishment based on seriousness of crime
“Happy is the nation without a history”

12. Women and the Enlightenment
Philosophes against much of their day but agreed on the role of women
Women’s job to stay home and take care of house and family!!!
Some fought for more improved status

13. Mary Astell
Lack of education for women
Lack of equality in marriage
“If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?”

14. Mary Wollstonecraft
Women need education to become virtuous and useful
Women should enter into the fields of medicine and politics
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.”

15. Philosophes try to make world better Belief in Progress
Secular world view (some wanted tolerance?)
Importance of individual
Hate absolutism and Religion as practice
in the day
All three have impact on their time and today!!!!
Science lead to solving social problems
Questioned beliefs want to know why
Look to themselves for all the answers
"Dare to know! Have courage to use your own reason!” Immaneul Kant