Revolutions in Scientific and Political Thought

People had always believed…  The earth was flat  Earth was the center of the Universe  The Catholic Church had all the answers

Scientific Revolution  In the 1600s, new technology and new ways of looking at the world emerged  People began using science to explain the world around them  Called the Scientific Revolution  Led by Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Isaac Newton…

Upset the Catholic Church  The Scientific Method:  Observation, hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, discovering scientific law!  Science challenged the authority of the church  Banned books by Galileo, put scientists on trial, etc.

Impact of Science  If science could explain the world around us, maybe it could be applied to other parts of life  Politics  The economy  Social relationships

Age of Enlightenment  People saw the universe as a “machine governed by fixed laws”  God was the “master mechanic”  Progress- the world and its people could be improved

Philosophers and the Government  Thomas Hobbes  Absolute monarchy was the best form of government  The Social contract between rulers and the people- people give up some natural rights just to live in society

Philosophers and the Government  John Locke  Government must have consent of the people  People have natural rights  Life, liberty, property  Overthrow the government if it doesn’t protect your basic rights

“Philosophes” The central figures in the Enlightenment were known as philosophes, the French word for “philosophers” Many were talented writers

The center of ideas:  Paris, France  Enlightenment thinkers, philosophes, gathered in salons to share ideas

The achievement of the philosophes was the Encyclopedie – Begun in 1750 and completed in 1772, the original work contained 17 text volumes and 11 books of illustrations on science, technology, and history More than 161 writers wrote articles It was soon banned by the Catholic Church

Baron de Montesquieu  Separation of Powers creating separate branches of government  Believed in the rights of individuals

Voltaire  French author  Religious Tolerance  Freedom of Speech  “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

Leaders and Reform  Enlightened despots  Rulers who wanted to govern with Enlightenment principles  Frederick II (Prussia)  Catherine II (Russia)  Maria Theresa

Classical movements  Art, music, literature adopt enlightenment ideas  Classical style

Enlightenment Opponents  Jean-Jacques Rousseau  Wanted people to rely on instinct and emotion  Human beings are naturally good but civilization corrupts them  People need to create a government devoted to the common good  If it’s not, remove the current government