Ch. 10 Sec 2

Enlightenment 17 and 18 th century philosophical movement Intellectuals impressed with Scientific Revolution Focused on reason Application of scientific method to understanding of life Hoped to make progress toward a better society

Lived during English Civil War Tutored English nobility Fled England How could this have influenced his political beliefs? Thomas Hobbes

Humans naturally selfish Guided by struggle for self-preservation To get what they want, people would always be at war w/everyone else “Every man for himself” Beliefs of Thomas Hobbes

Agreed to form government Absolute ruler (Leviathan) Unlimited power in order to suppress rebellion Purpose of government is to keep law and order Absolute power necessary to preserve order People cannot, and should not, overthrow government Social Contract

Against absolute rule Society is organized Live in state of equality and freedom No one is ruler over others John Locke

Tabula Rasa Man is born with a blank mind People are molded by experiences Came through senses from surrounding world

Positive view of human nature People can learn from experience and improve themselves Have ability to govern own affairs and look after welfare of society

Natural rights Life, liberty, property Difficult for people to protect Social Contract

Agree to establish gov’t Ensure protection of rights Judge those that violate those rights Purpose of government to protect individual liberties and rights People have right to revolt and change

Isaac Newton World-Machine Concept Physical world and everything in it operated like a giant machine Natural laws controlled everything Could be uncovered through systematic investigation Natural laws of physical world could lead to natural laws governing human society Laws could lead to ideal society

Ideas of the Philosophes Philosophe Intellectuals of the Enlightenment French word meaning “philosopher” Mostly nobility and middle class Mostly French

The Role of Philosophy Philosophes wanted to change the world Study society with purpose of making it better Rational criticism applied to everything Life, religion, politics Generations built on contributions before them Became more radical over time

Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws – 1748 Three Basic Gov’t Republics suitable for small states Despotism appropriate for large states Monarchies Moderate sized states

Separation of Powers Three Branches of English Gov’t Executive Monarch carries out laws Legislative Parliament makes laws Judicial Court system interprets laws Power limited through checks and balances

Voltaire Francois-Marie Arouet Criticized Christianity through satire Fought against religious intolerance in France Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religion and freedom of speech

Deist Religious philosophy based on reason and natural law God created world and set it in motion Allowed world to run according to natural laws and without interference

Denis Diderot Encyclopedia 28-volume collection of knowledge Articles written by greatest thinkers, philosophers and scientists of the day Included: Attacks on religious superstition Supported tolerance Social, legal, and political reforms

New Social Sciences Philosophes used Newton’s methods to discover natural laws Led to social sciences Economics and Political Science

Economics Physiocrats and Adam Smith Founders of modern economics Physiocrats French group Interested in identifying natural economic laws governing human society

Individuals free to pursue own economic self- interest would benefit society The state should not interrupt free economics Gov’t should not impose regulations State should leave the economy alone Laissez-Faire French for “let the people do what they want

Adam Smith 1776 – Wealth of the Nations State should not interfere in economy Gov’t has three basic roles Protect society from invasion – army Defend citizens from injustice – police Keep up public works necessary for social interaction and trade

Adam Smith and Economics Desire for personal gain drives economic activity Leads to competition Competition would benefit society Prices kept lower Production more efficient Labor and capital are directed to profitable industries Pursuit of self-interest benefits all society

Beccaria on Justice By 18 th Century, most European states had developed court system Punishments were often cruel Used to deter crime Police force too weak to capture criminals On Crimes and Punishments – 1764 Punishments should not be brutal Opposed capital punishment

The Social Contract Jean-Jacques Rousseau Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind People had adopted laws and gov’t to preserve property Became enslaved to gov’t The Social Contract – 1762 Society agrees to be governed by general will of the people People that wish to follow own self-interest must be forced to abide by general will

Rousseau’s Other Beliefs Emotion and reason were important to human development Balance between heart and mind Women naturally different from men Educate women for roles as wives and mothers Learn obedience Skills necessary to provide loving care for husbands and children

Women’s Rights Mary Wollstonecraft Vindication of the Rights of Women People argued women must obey man Also said gov’t with arbitrary power over subjects was wrong Enlightenment and rights based on reason Women have reason Women should have same rights as men

The Spread of Ideas 1760s introduced a new generation of philosophes Growth of Reading Parisian Salons English Coffeehouses

The Growth of Reading Spread of ideas to literate people extremely important Printing press increases speed and accuracy Publishing and literacy rates grew # of books increased Magazines newspapers

The Salon Salons Elegant drawing rooms of wealthy upper class’s houses People gathered there to have conversations about Enlightenment ideas Writers, artists, aristocrats, gov’t officials, wealthy middle class Gave women who hosted events a position of power Marie-Therese de Geoffrin