Enlightenment

What was the Enlightenment Enlightenment- was an intellectual movement. Enlightenment thinkers tried to apply reason and scientific methods to laws that shaped human actions. They hoped to build a society founded on the ideas of the Scientific Revolution.

Enlightenment Applied REASON to the study of the natural world Used reason to solve problems Human behavior governed by natural laws Largest intellectual movement since the Renaissance Apply reason to human life: Politics Religion Arts

Impact of the Enlightenment 1.  Stimulated Religious Tolerance 2.  Fueled Democratic Revolutions around the world 3. Rise of Individualism- thinking for yourself 4. Rise of a more secular or worldly outlook

Major Players

Thomas Hobbes Wrote Leviathan English philosopher who argues that all humans are naturally wicked. Believed that an absolute monarchy- one that gives all power to a king or queen- is the best form of government. Thought governments were created to protect people from their own selfishness.

John Locke Wrote Two Treatises on Government English philosopher who believed that people have the ability to reason and make good decisions if given proper information. Thought governments should be formed only with the approval of the people governing. Argued that governments should be established to protect individual freedoms and liberties. The people, not god, should choose officials

Opposing Views Hobbes Locke Absolute monarchy  People need government People are selfish and greedy Freedoms for peace, safety and order SOCIAL CONTRACT Government protect natural rights Monarchs NOT chosen by God Government by consent Power limited by laws Foundation for MODERN DEMOCRACY

Montesquieu- Wrote- The Spirit of Laws - French political thinker who believed that a monarchy with limited power makes a country stable and secure. Established the idea of “separation of powers”. This meant government should be divided or spread out among different branches of government so that no individual or group could gain too much power and threaten liberty.

“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains”

Rousseau- Wrote- The Social Contract- Swiss philosopher who believed that society had corrupted the natural goodness in people. Argued that only through direct democracy- where people vote in person to make all laws- can people’s freedoms be protected. Government should be a contract between rulers and the people

Voltaire A writer who fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious beliefs and freedom of speech. He also supported the notion of separation of church and state

How it Spread 1.Salons- wealthy women gathered to discuss Enlightenment ideas. Encyclopedia (Diderot)- published many Enlightenment ideas Pamphlets and newspapers helped circulate ideas

Effects on Politics/Society Increase in public discussion of politics and society SALONS – gatherings of writers, artists, and educated people to discuss the philosophies of the day in the homes of wealthy people Organized and ran by upper class women Spread ideas of the Enlightenment Paris = intellectual center of the Enlightenment

Enlightenment and Monarchs The church and French government were angered by Enlightenment ideas and tried to censor their work 2 Enlightenment thinkers tried to change the way governments were run and tried to convince rulers to rule justly. This started revolutions in the Americas and France

Major Ideas of the Enlightenment Thinker Impact Natural rights- life, liberty, property Locke Fundamental to U.S Declaration of Independence

Do Not Write We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are institute among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed

Separation of powers Montesquieu   France, U.S., Latin American nations use separation of power in new constitutions

Freedom of thought and expression Voltaire Guaranteed in U.S. Bill of Rights and French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen; European monarchs reduce or eliminate censorship

Abolish. of torture Beccaria Guaranteed in US Bill of Rights; torture outlawed or reduced in nations of Europe and the Americas

Do Not Write Bill of Rights protects rights of accused and prohibits cruel and unusual punishments

Religious freedom Voltaire Guaranteed in US Bill of Rights and French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen; European Monarchs reduce persecution  

Rousseau- Direct Democracy Public election of president and congress Do Not Write Rousseau- Direct Democracy Public election of president and congress

Impact of the Enlightenment Changed ideas on: Nationalism (people should be able to choose self-rule) Democracy American and French Revolutions Declaration of Independence US Constitution and Bill of Rights More secular Belief in progress Rise of individualism Use own ability to reason

Effects on the Arts The Enlightenment also influenced the Arts – music, literature, painting and architecture

Literature Europeans began writing novels Miguel de Cervantes His novel Don Quixote was a political statement on the downfall of the ruling Hapsburg family of Spain

Art & Music Baroque-grand, ornate style Dominated European art during 1600s- 1700s Elaborate palaces (EX: Versailles) Johann Sebastian Bach: Baroque composer Dramatic organ and choral music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: classical composer Wrote operas: The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, and Don Giovanni Neoclassical-”new classical” Elegant style from Greece and Rome

Art & Music Grouped similar instruments together = modern orchestra Music appreciated by itself outside of the theater or religious services

Painting Reason mixed with fantasy Art shows that rational thinking can control irrational emotions Romanticism Politics brought into art Eugene Delacroix – Painter “Liberty Leading the People”