Beginning of the Enlightenment Scientific Revolution challenged pre-existing ideas of how the world worked Europeans had moved away from faith-centered lifestyles during the Renaissance due to secularism – focus on the worldly Focus on investigation and inquiry, logic and reasoning, helped bring about the Scientific Revolution Major advancements in science were achieved during this period by individuals such as Copernicus, Galilei, Newton and Bacon/Descartes Led to The Enlightenment— Movement stressing reason and individualism during the 1700s In essence, it was another era in which the human condition was celebrated and it was widely believed that humans could improve themselves

Two Views on Government (Cont.) Enlightenment focused on rational thought -> made thinkers contemplate the nature of ruling bodies/governments View of government began to change from leaders/governments having complete power to ruling for the people/in the best interest of people Thomas Hobbes – English philosopher – Stated people enter contract: give up freedoms and government protects people In his book, Leviathan, Hobbes stated he Distrusted human nature – inherently corrupt, but they deserved to be treated in a humane way (i.e. the government should be run in a way that is firm with the people but acknowledges them and gives them rights). John Locke – English philosopher –Believed government gets power from the people – “Consent of the Governed” Believed humans had rights: life, liberty and property Also believed people have a right to overthrow unjust governments Ideas are reiterated in the Declaration of Independence via Thomas Jefferson – Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness

Thomas Hobbes John Locke

The Philosophes Advocate Reason Enlightenment cultivates Philosophes - French social critics in the mid-1700s Valued reason, progress, liberty, personal fulfillment Usually gathered in salons – French entertaining rooms in upscale houses Its where Enlightenment thinkers and writers would gather and discuss/exchange ideas Salons were usually planned/held by wealthy women rather than men – used as a way to be closer to educated/higher society even though women were still limited in what they could do Voltaire – French essayist – Defends personal freedoms of speech, religious toleration, etc. – Argued that people should make rational decisions themselves He argued that prejudice against minority groups such as the Jews was bad and just a deflection for society’s ill that needed to be fixed. Also stated women had great potential to learn/be educated Made powerful enemies among the French aristocracy and Church - and is exiled twice for his views Kept returning to France though

The Philosophes Advocate Reason Baron de Montesquieu—French lawyer – Believed government should be separated into different branches – won’t get too powerful Separation of duties/powers would prevent one office from overpowering other offices that were also essential to running a kingdom (country) Jean-Jacques Rousseau—French philosophe Stressed Social Contract Theory Stated that Will of the People was needed to form government “Consent of the Governed” – people willingly give up some of their power but the government in return protects their rights as citizens and individuals Also believed that people should act if the government fails in its duties to the people Cesare Beccaria – Italian Jurist - Worked to reform justice system by promoting greater rights for defendants such as access to speedy trials and protested cruel punishments Torture methods, banishment, etc. had been execution methods used previously – argued they were inhumane and unjust Protections against cruel and unusual punishment found in the U.S. Bill of Rights

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Baron de Montesquieu Voltaire Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Women And The Enlightenment Many Enlightenment thinkers take traditional views of women’s role – while they thought men are endowed with rights and had the potential to improve themselves, they still thought of women as an extension of men – not really their own person (except maybe Voltaire) Prominent English writer Mary Wollstonecraft urged greater rights/education for women: Argues women need education to be useful and in society – how else would women justify their existence? Urged women to go into traditionally male professions like politics, law, medicine, etc. Traditionally dominated by males (teaching is often dominated by females) – increase female presence in public Some Wealthy women use their status to spread Enlightenment ideas by holding social parties/get togethers where Enlightenment thinkers/speakers or at least their ideas were discussed

Mary Wollstonecraft

The Legacy Of The Enlightenment The philosophes were not activists but they inspired major revolutions – American Revolution, French Revolution, by extension the Industrial Revolution Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society New knowledge of the world leads people to question religious ideas Voltaire and others criticize beliefs and practices of the Church People emphasize individual rights Reason becomes a central concept for philosophers, European rulers are influenced by Enlightenment European rulers will adopt ideas about government and create laws based on those ideas because they agree with them and because Enlightenment philosophy is popular with the people