The Enlightenment (The Age of Reason)

The Rise of Reason New scientific discoveries brought a new way of thinking about how the world develops. This “new” way is based on observation and a willingness to question assumptions. The Scientific Method develops.

Scientific Revolution Heliocentric theory (the planets revolve around the sun) challenges the Geocentric theory (everything revolves around the earth)

Scientific Revolution – New Discoveries Galileo – Used a telescope to study the heavens – His observations helped prove the sun- centered (heliocentric) theory Isaac Newton – Law of Gravity New Scientific Instruments: Microscope, Barometer, thermometer. Discoveries in Medicine: Smallpox vaccine Discoveries in Math and Chemistry

Enlightenment People try to apply the scientific approach to all aspects of society. Political scientists propose new ideas about government. Philosophers advocate the use of reason to discover truths. Philosophers address social issues through reason.

Enlightenment Enlightenment writers challenge many accepted ideas about government.

John Locke Natural rights: life, liberty, and property Believed people could learn from experience and improve themselves People were reasonable being and could govern themselves Major ideas: Natural rights: life, liberty, and property

Locke #4 - Quotes “No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.” “All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.” “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts." “The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property.”

Thomas Hobbes Wrote book - Leviathan Believed humans were selfish and wicked – without government to keep order there would be chaos Social Contract – people hand over rights to a strong ruler. In exchange they get law and order

Hobbes #3 - Quotes “A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous. “ “Curiosity is the lust of the mind.” “In the state of nature profit is the measure of right.” “Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravitation.” “Leisure is the Mother of Philosophy.”

Wrote over 70 books Used satire against opponents – like the Clergy, aristocracy, and Government Fought for freedom speech and religion, tolerance and reason “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire

Voltaire #3 - Quotes “My trade is to say what I think.” “I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” “As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.” “Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” “God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” “He who thinks himself wise, O heavens, is a great fool.”

Beccaria Believed in and the abolishment of torture a speedy trial Believed laws exist to preserve social order not avenge crimes Believed in the abolishment of torture and a speedy trial

Mary Wollstonecraft Fought for equal rights for women Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Fought for equal rights for women Women need to be educated to be virtuous Urged women to enter into male dominated fields like medicine and politics

Mary Wollstonecraft #3 - Quotes “If women be educated for dependence; that is, to act according to the will of another fallible being, and submit, right or wrong, to power, where are we to stop?” “The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be contested without danger.” “Let not men then in the pride of power, use the same arguments that tyrannic kings and venal ministers have used, and fallaciously assert that women ought to be subjected because she has always been so.” “Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience. Virtue can only flourish among equals.”

Charles-Louis Montesquieu Government should be kept under control through separation of powers – a division into independent parts so that no part has too much power

Montesquieu #3 – Quotes “The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.” “Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” “The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.” “To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight. I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve."

Charles-Louis Montesquieu A way to guarantee balance is to have three branches of government: Legislative to make laws Executive to carry out and enforce laws Judicial to interpret laws Influenced: James Madison, often called the father of the U.S. Constitution because of his many contributions at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The Constitution separates government powers into three branches.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed: A social contract exists between citizens and their government. In this contract citizens accept certain rights and responsibilities, and GRANT the government the POWER to uphold those rights and responsibilities

Rousseau #3 - Quotes “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” “Force does not constitute right... obedience is due only to legitimate powers.” “Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.” “Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect.” “It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Influenced: The ideas of Locke and Rousseau influences Latin-American revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar. Bolivar fought to liberate his country, present day Venezuela, from Spanish rule. He also led movements for independence and democracy in what are now the nations of Bolivia, Colombia, Panama, and Peru.

Spread of Enlightenment Ideas Enlightenment ideas appeal to thinkers and artists across Europe. Salons (think coffee shop) help spread Enlightenment thinking. Ideas spread to literate middle class. Enlightened despots (or absolute rulers) attempt reforms.

Spread of Enlightenment Ideas Enlightenment ideas sweep through European society and also to colonial America.