The Enlightenment

Setting the Stage The Scientific Revolution prompted scholars to reevaluate other aspects of society such as: ◦ Government ◦ Religion ◦ Economics ◦ Education Enlightenment: new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems.

Two Views on Government Two English political thinkers put forth key ideas that spawned the Enlightenment: ◦ Thomas Hobbes ◦ John Locke Came to VERY different views on government and human nature

Thomas Hobbes All humans are naturally selfish and wicked Government is required to keep order ◦ Without government: chaos Must hand over rights to strong ruler to get law and order in exchange Social Contract: Agreement by which people create a government Ruler needed total power, favored absolute monarchy

Thomas Hobbes

John Locke More positive view on human nature Had ability to learn from mistakes, reasonable beings, could govern themselves In favor of self-government All people are free and equal with certain rights ◦ Life, ◦ Liberty ◦ Property

John Locke Purpose of government is to protect these rights If government fails, citizens should overthrow government Popular sovereignty: government’s power comes from consent of the people Helped inspire struggles for liberty in Europe and America

John Locke

French Philosphes French philosophers who believed that reason could be applied to all aspects of life Five concepts formed the core of beliefs: ◦ Reason: Enlightened thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking ◦ Nature: The philosophes believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable ◦ Happiness: The philosophes rejected the medieval notion that people should fins joy in the hereafter and urged people to see well-being on earth ◦ Progress: The philosophes stressed that society and humankind could improve ◦ Liberty: The philosophes called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights

Voltaire Used satire against opponents Targeted the clergy, the aristocracy, and the government Made powerful enemies but continued to fight for tolerance, reason, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Voltaire

Montesquieu Believed in separation of powers Keep individual parts of government from gaining total control “Power should be a check to power” Inspires checks and balances in US Constitution

Montesquieu

Rousseau Committed to individual freedom Has his own social contract, different from Hobbes ◦ Agreement between free people to create society and government All people are equal and nobility should be abolished Inspired leaders of French Revolution

Rousseau

Women and the Enlightenment Mary Astell: addressed the lack of educational opportunities for women ◦ “If all men are born free, how is it women are born slaves?” Mary Wollstonecraft: Women, like men need education to become virtuous and useful ◦ Encouraged women to enter male dominated fields of medicine and politics Emilie du Châtelet: translated Newton’s work from Latin to French

Mary Astell

Mary Wollstonecraft

Emilie du Châtelet