THE ENLIGHTENMENT THE AGE OF REASON

The Enlightenment What is the Enlightenment?  Develops out of the ideas of Scientific Revolution- Philosophers use ideas and reason of Scientific Revolution for problems in government & society  An expansion of the worldliness and secularism (separation or state and religion) Renaissance  Central Concepts of the Enlightenment  Methods of natural science should be used to understand all aspects of life-through use of REASON  Discover the natural laws of human society as well as the natural world (social science)  Idea of progress – Confidence in human power, human reason to improve society

Enlightenment and Government  Enlightenment thinkers criticized accepted ideas of government  Divine right of kings-idea God choose the king, and king got is authority from God  Stressed individual rights that government must respect  Enlightenment thinkers felt people should have a say in their government  Value reason and observation  Targets religion (Catholic Church) and domination of society by a hereditary aristocracy

John Locke: Social Contract and Natural Rights Wrote Two Treaties of Government in 1690 Gov. was to protect people’s natural rights – “Life, Liberty, & Property” Social Contract between the people and their government If gov. does not respect human rights, it can be overthrown People gave gov. power to rule, consent of the governed Idea of gov. being overthrown is echoed in Declaration of Independence

Locke's’ Ideas in England  Locke in favor of constitutional monarchies  Constitution limits power of monarchs  1689-English set down rules-English Bill of Rights  Strengthens power of people & their representatives in Parliament

Philosophes  Used methods of science to understand and improve society  Endorsed progress and tolerance  Distrusted organized religion  Focused on solving problems of world/society  Reason would lead to reforms of government, laws, and society  Voltaire, Montesquieu, Diderot, Rousseau

Montesquieu: Separation of Powers Concern was how to protect liberty from bad government Wrote The Spirits of Laws in 1748 Describes how governments should be organized His idea: the Separation of powers Dividing different powers among more than one branch of govt.-no group could grow too powerful Each branch checked the other Influenced U.S. Constitution- Legislative(Congress) Judicial(courts) Executive(President)

Voltaire: Religious Tolerance and Free Speech Writer – targets corrupt officials Battled inequalities, injustice and superstition, religious intolerence Advocated for freedom of thought and expression “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” U.S. Bill of Rights – used idea of freedom of religion and freedom of speech – 1 st Amendment to the Constitution

Jean Jacques Rousseau Science raise barriers between people and their natural state People are good – evils of society corrupts them “Virtue exists in the state of nature but is lost in society- “Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains” Government must preserve virtue & liberty Social Contract – Minimal controls on people – Freely elected govt. could place controls on people – General will of the people – Good of community is above individual interests

Physiocrats: Economic Thinking  Natural laws-Rational Economic System based on natural laws of economies  Laissez Faire –Businesses to operate with little or no government control  Mercantilism-too much gov. regulation  Smith- The Wealth of Nations- Free Markets would regulate business activity  Supply and Demand- suppliers would meet demand  Gov. had duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public works

Enlightened Despots  Frederick II (The Great) of Prussia  Ruled Prussia from  Granted Religious Freedoms  Reduced Censorship  Improved Education

Enlightened Despots Joseph II of Austria Progressive policy of religious toleration Granted toleration to Jews and Protestants in Catholic Empire Improved peasants way of life Abolished serfdom Sold church properties and monasteries not involved in education or care of the sick Patron of Composers

Enlightened Despots Catherine the Great of Russia Believed in Enlightenment ideas of equality and liberty Limited reforms in government and law Granted nobles a charter of rights Religious tolerance Criticized serfdom-did not abolish Vastly expanded the Russian Empire