Enlightenment & American Revolution Ch 17

Philosophy in the Age of Reason Sec 1

Natural Law Who: Europeans What: rules that are discoverable by reasoning that governed scientific forces such as gravity & magnetism Where: Europe When: 1500s-1600s Why: scientific success convinced educated Europeans of the power of human reason; used to better understand social, economic, & political probs; used this to study human behavior & solve probs = led to the Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes Who: 17 th century English thinker What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment ; wrote “Leviathan” Where: England When: 1700s Why: he lived through upheavals in the English Civil War; outlined his ideas in “Leviathan”= argued that ppl were naturally cruel, greedy & selfish; he said that ppl entered into “Social Contract” to avoid brutal life; best gov’t= Absolute Monarchy

John Locke Who: 17 th century English thinker What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment Where: England When: 1700s Why: he thought ppl were reasonable & moral; ppl had certain natural rights: life, liberty, & property; came to very diff ideas about the human nature & role of govt= govt has obligation to its ppl, if it fails, it fails the ppl = if govt violates natural rights = ppl have a right to overthrow= American & French Revolutions

Social Contract Who: European ppl; Thomas Hobbes What: an agreement where ppl gave up their freedom for an organized society Where: Europe When: 1500s-1600s Why: Hobbes said that ppl entered into this agreement to escape the brutish lifestyle; believed a powerful govt = orderly society; promoted Absolutism

Natural Right Who: John Locke What: rights that belonged to all humans on earth such as life, liberty, & property Where: England When: s Why: Locke believed ppl are reasonable & moral= they have rights from birth; ppl had a right to overthrow a govt if these rights were violated = American & French Revolutions

Philosophe Who: French Enlightenment thinkers/philosophers What: they believed the use of reason could lead to reforms of gov’t, law, & society Where: France, Europe When: 1700s Why: this group of thinkers started Enlightenment thought = spread throughout Europe & beyond; applied methods of science to improve society

Montesquieu Who: an early influential thinker; a philisophe What: studied the gov’ts of Europe & learned about Chinese & Native Am. Cultures; wrote “Sprit of Laws” Where: France, Europe When: Why: his sharp criticism of Absolutism = debate; in order to protect liberty the gov’t should be divided into 3 branches; idea taken by framers of US Constitution; wrote “Persian Letters”= ridiculed French Gov’t

Voltaire Who: a Philosophe, poet & historian What: an imprisoned poet, historian, essayist & philosopher Where: Paris, France When: Why: he detested the slave trade; deplored religious prejudice; defended principle of freedom of speech; his new ideas= imprisoned & forced into exile

Diderot Who: a Philosophe, editor of the Encyclopedia What: he produced a 28-volume set of books called the Encyclopedia Where: Europe, the Americas When: Why: he wanted to change the general way of thinking by explaining ideas on topics such as gov’t, philosophy, religion = urged education for all ; included articles from Montesquieu & Voltaire; denounced slavery & praised freedom of expression

Rousseau Who: Jean-Jacques Rousseau; a Philosophe What: created the Social Contract (book) society placed too many limitations on ppl’s behavior; believed that ppl were basically good Where: France When: 1762 Why: believed in good will & best conscience of the ppl; he showed great hate for oppression; his ideas= American & French Revolutions

Laissez-Faire Who: French thinkers; Adam Smith What: a policy allowing business to operate w/ little or no gov’t interference Where: France, When: Why: this rejected Mercantilism= gov’t controls the economy to reach a favorable balance of trade; this supported free trade & opposed tarriffs

Adam Smith Who: Scottish Economist What: In his influential work “Wealth of Nations” he advocated for the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity Where: Scotland, Europe, Americas When: s Why: he was a strong supporter of Laissez-Faire; felt gov’t should only administer justice & provide public work; his ideas= shape productive economies in s

Rococo Who: What: Where: When: Why:

Enlightenment Ideas Spread Sec 2

Censorship Who: European writers What: restricting access to ideas & info Where: France, Europe, Americas, Middle East When: 1700s Why: Authorities had to defend the “Old order” that God had set up agnst the writers’ new ideas= banned all books & burn books & imprison the writers= writers disguise their ideas in fiction

Salons Who: writers, artists,& philosophers; French women What: an informal social gathering for women in their homes Where: Paris, France When: s Why: it started in 1600s- noblewomen began inviting friends to their homes for poetry readings; by 1700s it flourished- middle class women are now invited= equal footing = discuss & spread enlightenment ideas

Baroque Who: What: Where: When: Why:

Enlightenment Despot Who: What: Where: When: Why:

Frederick the Great Who: What: Where: When: Why:

Catherine the Great Who: What: Where: When: Why:

Joseph II Who: What: Where: When: Why: