1. The Enlightenment in Europe

2. Enlightenment “The Enlightenment” – an intellectual movement
“The Age of Reason” based on the Scientific Revolution: Enlightenment thinkers tried to apply reason and scientific method to laws that shaped human actions and society.

3. Enlightenment
Writers and authors held discussions and social gatherings called “salons”
Rulers who followed Enlightenment ideas in part – but were unwilling to give up much power – were called “enlightened despots”

4. Two Views on Government
Thomas Hobbes.
Believed there would be a war of “every man against every man” if there was no government.
“Social Contract”: agreement between people and their government.

5. Two Views on Government
Thomas Hobbes.
“Social Contract”
People give up their rights to the government to live in a safe and orderly way.
Best government is that of a strong king who can force all people to obey.

6. Two Views on Government
John Locke
Believed people have
three natural rights:
Life
Liberty
Property

7. Two Views on Government
John Locke
If government fails to protect the three rights, people have a right to overthrow the government.

8. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Philosophes: Social critics / French thinkers

9. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Philosophes: Social critics / French thinkers. Five main beliefs:
REASON: Truth can be discovered through reason or logical thinking.
NATURE: What was natural was also good and reasonable.
HAPPINESS: Rejected the medieval idea that people should wait to find joy in the afterlife, and urged people to seek happiness and well-being on earth today!
PROGRESS: Society and humankind can improve.
LIBERTY: People should enjoy freedoms & rights.

10. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Voltaire
Most brilliant of the philosophes
Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief and freedom of speech.

11. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Montesquieu
Wrote about Separation of Powers: dividing government among the separate branches of government.

12. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Rousseau
Wrote in favor of human freedom.
Wanted society in which all people were equal.

13. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Beccaria
Italian
Spoke against abuses of justice
Abolish torture

14. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Mary Wollstonecraft
Wrote about women’s rights: “If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?”
Many Enlightenement thinkers wanted equal rights for men but paid no attention to the fact that women didn’t have such rights.

15. Legacy of Enlightenment
Influenced American and French Revolutions
Spread the idea of progress
Use reason to make society better
Made world less religious and more worldly.
Importance of the individual.

16. Enlightenment Paragraph
SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER:
P. 200, Question #9
Write one paragraph (appx. ½ page)
Compare the views of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau on government. Then write one paragraph about how their ideas reflect their understanding of human behavior.