Enlightenment Human reason to improve society- live according to natural laws Religions that relied on faith or refused to tolerate diversity were wrong Goals should be center on improvements in material and social life Belief that human beings were good and that education and reason could improve this situation even further Focus on the role of mankind in relation to government Greatly influenced U.S. constitution Which in turn serve as a model for others Developed as a result of the scientific revolution

Principles of Enlightenment Religions that relied on faith or refused to tolerate diversity were wrong Humans behave according to natural laws

Philosophes Began with Philosophes French philosophers who would meeting at salons to discuss their beliefs Some followed the scientific philosophy of Deism That there is a God who created earth, and then left it to be operate by natural laws

Social Contract Governments were not formed by divine decree, but to meet the social and economic needs of the people being govern Reasoned that individuals existed before governments did Governments arose to meet the need of people not the other way around

Core of Philosophy Reason Nature Happiness Truth discovered through reason or logical thinking Absence of intolerance, bigotry or prejudice in one’s thinking Nature What was natural was also good and reasonable Happiness A person who lived by nature’s laws would find happiness. Impatient with medieval notion of that people should accept misery in this world and find joy in the afterlife

Progress Believed if people used the scientific approach, society and humankind could be perfected Liberty Society should be set free French envied the liberties that the British had won

Rousseau “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” All men are equal and should be organized according to general will Majority rule of the people Social Contract Essence of freedom is to obey laws that people prescribe for themselves

People give up some of their freedom in favor of a common good Believed that civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness Argued that all people are equal and titles of nobility should be abolished. a direct democracy Influence revolutionary movements as well as anti-slavery movements

Hobbes Support social contract Preserve peace and stability at all costs Individuals give up rights to strong rulers to gain law and order Rulers need total power to keep citizens under control Without government to keep man in order life would be bleak Believed that all humans were naturally selfish and wicked Best government was an absolute monarchy

Locke Criticize absolute monarchy in favor of idea of self government People have natural ability to govern themselves and look after the welfare of society All men are born free and equal All people have 3 natural rights Life, liberty and property

Purpose of government is to protect natural rights If government fails to protect natural rights, citizens have the right to overthrow the government Government comes from the consent of the people

Montesquieu Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Division of authority between executive, legislative and judicial branches Checks and Balances Prevents one branch of government from dominating other branches Basis for the U.S. Constitution

Voltaire Used satire in writings against clergy, aristocracy and government Mock the laws and customs of France Raised doubt about Christian religion Religious toleration Stronger believer in tolerance, reason, freedom of belief and speech

Beccaria Believed law existed to preserve social order, not avenge crimes Believed accused should receive a speedy trial. Never use torture Wanted to abolish capital punishment

Wollstonecraft Argued that women deserve the same rights as man Key to equality and freedom is better education

Common themes for Enlightenment thinkers Did not presume that government had divine authority Proposed governmental systems that would best serve the interest of the people by protecting individual rights and liberties

Adam Smith Economist Wealth of Nations Avoid government regulation Favor individual initiative and market forces

Enlighten Monarchs Tolerance, justice, and improvement of people’s lifestyle became guideline for new breed of rulers Joseph II of Austria Frederick II of Prussia Still ruled as absolute monarchs but did make attempts to Tolerate diversity Increase opportunities for serfs