The Enlightenment The Age of Reason

The Age of Enlightenment An intellectual movement in from mid1600s s in Europe (mostly England & France) Enlightenment thinkers applied methods and principles of the Scientific Revolution to issues of political, economic and social reform Focused on the power and goodness of human rational thinking Often referred to as “The Age of Reason” Mostly effected the urban middle classes and aristocracy Enlightenment thinkers were known as “philosophes”

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Enlightenment Thinkers Hobbes Locke Montesquieu Voltaire Rousseau Diderot Wollstonecraft Smith

Thomas Hobbes Believed in the social contract- people give up individual liberties in return for social order & protection The natural condition of humans is one of continuous conflict and competition (war) Supporter of absolute monarchy Believed anarchy to be a state of nature. Wrote Leviathan (1651) Said life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

Cover of Hobbes ’ book Leviathan

John Locke Believed in “natural rights”: Life, Liberty & Property People form governments to protect their natural rights. Government exists to protect those rights, & if it doesn’t, it should be overthrown. Gov. should have limited power Supporter of democracy

Baron de Montesquieu Separation of power into 3 branches of gov: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial His idea of “checks and balances” of each branch would influence the U.S. Constitution

Voltaire Strong supporter of freedom of speech and religious toleration Humans are liars, traitors, ingrates, thieves, misers, killers, fanatics, hypocrites, fools and so on. Yet, it’s normal. Believed in separation of church and state Satirist who wrote about the French monarchy, the nobility, and the church Wrote the novel Candide Denied writings to avoid trouble with French monarchy

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Argued that people are born good, but are corrupted by society Opposed strong govt. Govt. should be created and controlled by the people (“popular sovereignty”) Wrote The Social Contract (1762)

Denis Diderot Created/ edited The Encyclopedia – Taught people to think critically – Solicited articles from many experts – Controversial articles brought criticism – Overall, moved forward the ideas of The Enlightenment

Mary Wollstonecraft Early spokesperson for women’s rights (early feminist) Argued the ideals of equality should be extended to women as well as men. Governments should extend political rights to women Supported equal education for girls & boys Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

Adam Smith Scotish economist considered the father of capitalism Division of labor increases productivity and efficiency Wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776) - Bible of capitalism Individuals should be free to pursue wealth w/o gov. restrictions People are motivated by self-interest Theory of Supply and Demand

Key Ideas of The Enlightenment Natural rights Freedom of speech Religious tolerance/limits on the church Education for all Attacked absolute monarchies

Results of The Enlightenment Revolutions in the USA, France, and Haiti New ideas about equality, freedoms and democracy Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence The US Constitution & Bill of Rights

Question #1 Q: What did Thomas Hobbes believe?

Question #2 What did John Locke believe were the three rights every person is naturally entitled to?

Question #3 How did Montesquieu influence the government of the U.S.?

Question #4 What did Adam Smith believe? Why was this important?

Question #5 Who was Mary Wollstonecraft? What did she propose during the Enlightenment?

Question #6 What was Denis Diderot responsible for during the Enlightenment? Why was this important?

Question #7 What was another term for an Enlightenment thinker?

Question #8 What was The Enlightenment?

Question #9 What were consequences of The Enlightenment?