Chapter 17, Section 1

Question---Your Bellringer  How do you think the Scientific Revolution might have transformed how people looked at the events in the world?

Scientific Revolution Sparks the Enlightenment  Successes of the scientific method and use of other forms of reason convinced Europeans that the Human mind was powerful  They believed in Natural Law: Rules discoverable by reason  They believed that natural law governed scientific forces, but believed that natural law may be able to explain other factors

Natural Law outside of Science  Many asked if we could use Natural Law to understand social, economic and political problems.  This is one way the Scientific revolution transformed all thought…..  Immanuel Kant was the first philosopher to dub this era “The Enlightenment”

Two Men With The Same Idea, But Completely Different….. Thomas HobbesJohn Locke

Thomas Hobbes once Said . In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Huh?  Hobbes published his ideas in “The Leviathan.”  Hobbes believed that people are naturally cruel, greedy, violent, and selfish……  If not strictly controlled, they would rape, murder, steal everything….  No, that is not this classroom….  This was life in the State of Nature….

The Way Out?  He described life in the state of nature as “Nasty, Brutish, and short…”  To survive, he believe man entered a social contract You would give up some freedoms in exchange for protection from the government

Think-Pair-Share  Partner A: What rights would you be willing to give up in order for protection by your government?  Partner B: What type of government might protect its citizens the best.

Hobbes’ Government…  Hobbes believed that you needed a powerful monarch to order society  He believed putting the power in the hand of one person was the best way to compel order and force obedience

Locke’s Differences  Locke was more optimistic than Hobbes  He believed people were reasonable and moral.  He also believed people had certain natural rights Rights that belonged to all humans from birth He believed these rights included: Life, Liberty, and Property

Locke’s Book  Locke, in Two Treatises of Government, argued that the government was there to protect Natural Rights.  He, unlike Hobbes did not believe in an all-powerful central authority.  This is proven in the stance he took against James II.  He believed that James II should be de- throned for violating the rights of the English.

A “Revolutionary” Idea  Locke also introduced a new radical idea: If a government fails to ensure that all people have natural rights or the government violates their rights, the people have the right to overthrow the government.

Hobbes vs. Locke Again HobbesLocke  Believed people were violent and irrational  Believed people forfeited their rights to be protected by the government  Believed in an all- powerful monarchy  Believed people were rational and moral  Believed while there should be a government, their goal is to protect the rights of the people  Rejected absolute governmental power  Believed people could overthrow the government

Making Metaphors  Here are your instructions: Step 1: ○ Pick three words from the summarization of Hobbes’ philosophy. ○ Pick another three words from the summarization of Locke’s philosophy. Step 2: ○ Using your three words find a sport that best meets your three words and serves as a good metaphor for Hobbes’ philosophy. ○ Be ready to explain why your metaphor makes sense. ○ Repeat the same steps for Locke. ○ You have two minutes to create your metaphor.

Making Metaphors cont. Step 3: ○ Partner A will share their metaphor for Hobbes for 30 seconds. ○ When that 30 seconds is up, Partner B will question the metaphor. ○ For the final 30 seconds, Partner A will answer Partner B’s questions. Partner A will then repeat their steps with Locke. Step 4: Partner B will share their Hobbes metaphor for 30 seconds and repeat the above steps.

Hobbes vs. Locke Again HobbesLocke  Believed people were violent and irrational  Believed people forfeited their rights to be protected by the government  Believed in an all- powerful monarchy  Believed people were rational and moral  Believed while there should be a government, their goal is to protect the rights of the people  Rejected absolute governmental power  Believed people could overthrow the government

Montesquieu One of the Philesophes

The Spirit of the Laws  Montesquieu discussed the roles and successes of governments throughout history  He rejected absolute monarchy  In finding the best way to defend liberty, he argued the following That the various functions of government should be divided into three branches…

Three Branches?  He believed that these branches should be: executive, judicial, and legislative.  He also believed that these branches should be able to check and balance each other’s powers  (Yep, this is where America stole the ideas for the constitution from)

Voltaire

Voltaire: The most famous Philosophe  Famous for saying “My trade, is to say what I think”  He used wit in his writing to expose injustices of the day.  He targeted inequality, injustice and superstition all with his works.  He offended the French government and the catholic church with many of his works.

The End of Voltaire  He was eventually imprisoned and forced into exile.  Although many of his books were banned, he continued to defend free speech.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Very Similar to Hobbes and Locke

Another Social Contract Theory  He believed that people were inherently good, however their innocence was corrupted by the evils of society.  Rousseau’s Government: Should be minimal Should be freely elected Should uphold the general will ○ The best conscience of the people

Yet Another Metaphor  You will now make another sports metaphor for Rousseau. You will have 1 minute to prepare your metaphor. Partners will take turns sharing and questioning each other’s metaphors.

A New Economy  French thinkers began applying concepts of natural laws to economics. These French thinkers are known as the Physiocrats.  The physiocrats rejected the current economic system of mercantilism. Government regulation of the economy to create a fair balance of trade

So what Did they Believe in?  The Physiocrats pushed for a policy of laissez faire economics. A system where businesses could operate without government interference.