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The Enlightenment Politics & Philosophy
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Bell Ringer In your notebooks, answer: What was the Enlightenment? How did the SR impact the Enlightenment?
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Political Enlightenment
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Three Themes in the Political Realm 1.Property oCentral feature oGives an individual a stake in society 2.Rights oEvery individual is entitled to basic rights simply because they exist 3.Law oThat which makes 1 & 2 work oGuarantees property & rights
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Political Philosophes
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John Locke 1632-1704 Most influential writing was “Two Treatises of Civil Government” written in 1690
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Locke’s Philosophy The individual must become a “rational creature” Virtue can be learned & practiced Human beings possess free will oThey should be prepared for freedom oObedience should be out of conviction, not fear
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Locke’s Philosophy (cont.) Legislators owe their power to a contract with the people Neither kings nor wealth are divinely ordained There are certain natural rights that are endowed by God to all human beings oLife, liberty, & property Favored a republic
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Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) Most influential writing was “Spirit of the Laws” written in 1748 “Countries are well- cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.”
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Montesquieu’s Philosophy Used England’s government as a model for: The separation of powers Executive Power = King Legislative Power = Parliament Judicial Power = Courts Checks & balances Monarchs should be subject to constitutional limits on their power
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778 Most influential writing was “The Social Contract” written in 1762
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Rousseau’s Philosophy Tabula Rasa (blank slate) Best traits of human character are products of nature Society corrupts people, therefore, we must fix society
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Rousseau (cont.) In The Social Contract: oThe right kind of political order could make people truly moral & free oIndividual moral freedom could be achieved only by learning to subject one’s individual interests to the “General Will”
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Rousseau - Social Contract (cont.) oIndividuals could do this by entering into a social contract - not with their rulers, but with each other oThis social contract was derived from human nature -NOT from history, tradition, or the Bible oPeople = most free & moral under a republican form of government with a direct democracy
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Philosophical Enlightenment
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Marquis de Condorcet 1743-1794 Most influential writing: Progress of the Human Mind (1794)
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Condorcet’s Philosophy Expectation of universal happiness Every individual guided by reason could enjoy true independence Advocated: oFree & equal education oConstitutionalism oEqual rights for women
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Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 Most influential work: Critique of Pure Reason (1781)
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Kant’s Philosophy Investigated the structure & limitations of reason Believed he created a compromise between the empiricists and the rationalists (reason + experience = Enlightenment)
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Denis Diderot 1713-1784 Most influential writing: The Encyclopedia (1751) (coauthor: Jean le Rond d’Alembert)
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Diderot’s Encyclopédie Complete cycle of knowledge that changed the general way of thinking 28 volumes Alphabetical, cross- referenced, illustrated
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Voltaire 1694-1778 François Marie Arouet Most famous book: Candide (1759) Known for sharp wit that was often critical of the church and state
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Voltaire (cont.) Wrote plays, novels, poetry, essays, & letters Fierce defender of civil liberties, especially: oReligious freedom oFree trade oFreedom of speech Spent time imprisoned in the Bastille
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Voltaire (cont.) Life (video) Last words
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Words of Wisdom from Voltaire Each group will get a quote from Voltaire Your job is to: oDiscuss the quote & figure out what Voltaire meant oOffer to the class your group’s interpretation of Voltaire’s wisdom & how it relates to the Enlightenment
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Homework Worksheet: Rousseau’s The Social Contract Due next class period
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