1. The Enlightenment Late 17 th century- most of 18 th century (1600s-1700s)

2. The philosophes Informal, unorganized group of critics, political reformers and religious skeptics Key goals: – FREEDOM! (speech, trade, movement, religion) – Motto (from Immanuel Kant): “Dare to know” – Worldview based on humanity’s claim to be adult, responsible beings – Depend on neither church nor state – Moral sense in natural man Humanity can be improved Inductive and deductive reasoning Historical research

3. Roots of the Enlightenment Scientific Revolution – Natural world and humanity Newton – Nature through experimentation – Rational laws of nature Locke – Applied Newton’s ideas to humanity – Personalities develop through experience – Tabula rasa- blank page – Humans better their lives Glorious Revolution in Britain – Stable and tolerant system Impact of printing press – Printed work readily available

4. Beginning of the Enlightenment Publication of Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687)- death of Louis XIV (1715) Philosophes’ strength- numbers, organization, dedication to reform

5. The Encyclopedia Begun by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert 17-volume work Questioned: – Religious faith – Social institutions – Political institutions Praised: – Sciences – Industrial arts Censors tried to halt publication but it was widely read

6. Religious reform Criticized church (carefully)- superstitious, backward, barbarian Rejected stain of original sin and unable to create better life on earth Deism – Rational, orderly God Atheists Enlightenment (not Renaissance or Reformation) took control of cultural and intellectual life away from Church – Made modern culture possible “If you forbid me to speak on religion and government, I have nothing to say”- Diderot

7. Economic reform Middle class objected mercantilism – Wanted free enterprise and political power High taxation – easier to tax middle class sales than property of aristocracy Physiocrats Challenging mercantilism = challenging absolute government – Money should circulate freely – Economy without gov’t interference (laissez-faire)

8. Political reform Natural rights theory – Liberty of person, security of property and freedom of discussion Man realizes full potential in society Social function of knowledge Defended enlightened absolutism

9. Beccaria On Crimes and Punishments Argued against the death penalty – State doesn’t possess right to take lives – Punishment should be prevention not revenge – Prompt = effective Called for reform of the criminal law system Education would lessen crime

10. Wollstonecraft Advocate for women’s rights – Women aren’t inferior to men – They seem inferior to men because they lack education – Men and women should be treated as rational beings – Social order founded on reason A Vindication of the Rights of Women

11. Diderot – A 28-volume set of books called the Encyclopedia. – Purpose was to change the general way of thinking – Explaining ideas on government, philosophy, and religion.

12. Hobbes Claimed that before organized society, life was poor, nasty, and brutish Humans not guided by morals People enter into a social contract or agreement by which they gave up their freedom for an organized society. A government should be powerful to ensure an orderly society. Lived during English Civil War and saw need for powerful monarchy to protect the people

13. Montesquieu Spirit of the Laws, 1748 – Hatred of despotism and slavery – Fundamental laws to temper monarchy Influenced aristocratic reactionaries (revive feudalism) and honest liberals Idealized English constitutionalism Separation of powers- basis for balancing power in gov’t (3 branches)

14. “Mon-tes-quieu” = “Three bran-ches” What were the three branches of government that Montesquieu proposed? 1.Legislative- makes laws 2.Executive- carries out laws 3.Judicial- interprets laws.

15. Locke Against absolute power People have natural rights: life liberty and property Contract b/w ppl & gov’t: gov’t protect rights and ppl will respect gov’t. Gov’ts are there to protect people’s natural rights. Gov’t should have limited power and accepted by all citizens. Gov’t has an obligation to the people it governs. If it fails, it should be overthrown.

16. Rousseau Moral and legal equality of man – Sovereignity of the people; authority of general will Social Contract 1.Society placed too many limitations on people’s behavior 2.Some controls were necessary, but they should be minimal 3.Only governments that had been freely elected should impose these controls. 4.The good of the community as a whole should be placed above individual interests. People give up their rights to the sovereign and the people are the sovereign (general will)- submitting to the will of everybody- direct democracy – You are the author of the laws you’re submitting to

17. Smith The Wealth of Nations Individuals motivated by self-interest drive the economy forward – Not mercantilist state Challenged finite resources- ‘pie’ metaphor Attack on mercantilism- absolutism Philosophy of capitalism – Eventually dominant economic theory of Western world

18. Voltaire Voltaire’s main philosophy – He wanted to battle inequality, injustice, and superstition by saying what he thought. In other words, he believed in freedom of speech.

19. Enlightenment PP Quiz Answer all 8 questions on a sheet of notebook paper. You have 10 minutes. – 1. What did Wollstonecraft advocate (support)? – 2. What did Montesquieu propose? – 3. How was Hobbes different from other enlightened philosophes? – 4. Explain Rousseau’s social contract philosophy. – 5. What was Voltaire’s main philosophy? – 6. What did Beccaria argue against? – 7. Explain how the Scientific Revolution affected the Enlightenment. – 8. What system did Adam Smith propose?

20. Enlightenment PP Quiz Answers 1. Women’s rights 2. Three branches of government 3. He thought absolute monarchy was necessary for protection of the people. 4. Minimal control on people’s behavior; government had to be freely elected; good of the community placed above the individual 5. Freedom of speech 6. Death penalty 7. People found laws to govern the natural world so monarchs have laws that should govern them as well (no power should be absolute) 8. Capitalism