The Enlightenment & Political Thought

NO Note-taking ! ! The philosophes had the greatest impact on political thought and theory. Arguably, political institutions needed the most reform, especially on the Continent. The philosophes were not, however, in agreement on what was the ideal political system. Their solutions ranged from absolute monarchy to direct democracy

I. French philosophes were the MOST discontented. Why? Problems in France included a) corrupt b) inept c) wars didn’t d) power of the Church

II. John Locke (1632-1704) NOT French but Pre-Enlightenment 3 natural rights = Social Contract Tabula Rasa Locke is probably THE most influential philosopher b/c his writings influenced Voltaire, Rousseau, Kant, Thomas Jefferson…etc.

III. Voltaire 1. 2. 3. 4.

IV. Baron de Montesquieu A noble of the robe Spirit of the Laws Type of government? a) “political variables” French Aristocracy? Division of Power in Gov

V. Rousseau (1712-1778) Commercial values Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Wrote The Social Contract a) All men are born free, but b) freedom = c) promoted direct __________

His conclusion? Wanted people to be good, even if it meant being _______ His “radical” democracy did not sit well with?

VI. Women in the Thought and Practice of the Enlightenment Salons a) contacts b) circulate c) center of d) boost Still: philosophes were generally NOT strong feminists. So…what did the major philosophes think of women?

VII. Montesquieu/Women Intellectually? Role in society? Marriage & Family?

VIII. Rousseau/Women The most radical of all Domestic sphere Subordinate to a) emphasized b) weaker & 3. Inspired?

IV. Mary Wollstonecraft Wrote “Vindication of the Rights of Women” Opposed One of the first Used reason to She had a daughter “Mary” in 1797 and died one month after giving birth. Her daughter became the author of???