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The Enlightenment Politics & Philosophy. Bell Ringer In your notebooks, answer: What was the Enlightenment? How did the SR impact the Enlightenment?

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Presentation on theme: "The Enlightenment Politics & Philosophy. Bell Ringer In your notebooks, answer: What was the Enlightenment? How did the SR impact the Enlightenment?"— Presentation transcript:

1 The Enlightenment Politics & Philosophy

2 Bell Ringer In your notebooks, answer: What was the Enlightenment? How did the SR impact the Enlightenment?

3 Political Enlightenment

4 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

5 Political Philosophes

6 John Locke 1632-1704 Most influential writing was “Two Treatises of Civil Government” written in 1690

7 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

8 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

9 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.”

10 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

11 Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778 Most influential writing was “The Social Contract” written in 1762

12 Rousseau’s Philosophy Tabula Rasa (blank slate) Best traits of human character are products of nature Society corrupts people, therefore, we must fix society

13 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”

14 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

15 Philosophical Enlightenment

16 Marquis de Condorcet 1743-1794 Most influential writing: Progress of the Human Mind (1794)

17 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

18 Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 Most influential work: Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

19 Kant’s Philosophy Investigated the structure & limitations of reason Believed he created a compromise between the empiricists and the rationalists (reason + experience = Enlightenment)

20 Denis Diderot 1713-1784 Most influential writing: The Encyclopedia (1751) (coauthor: Jean le Rond d’Alembert)

21 Diderot’s Encyclopédie Complete cycle of knowledge that changed the general way of thinking 28 volumes Alphabetical, cross- referenced, illustrated

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24 Voltaire 1694-1778 François Marie Arouet Most famous book: Candide (1759) Known for sharp wit that was often critical of the church and state

25 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

26 Voltaire (cont.) Life (video) Last words

27 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

28 Homework Worksheet: Rousseau’s The Social Contract Due next class period


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