1. Unit VIII: Age of Absolutism

2. The Enlightenment

3. A. Enlightenment, or Age of Reason (18th century) 1. A philosophical movement of intellectuals who were impressed with the Scientific Revolution a. They hoped to use the scientific method to make progress toward a better society -focus on reason, natural law, hope, and progress b. These intellectuals were especially influenced by the ideas of Sir Isaac Newton and John Locke -Newton viewed the world as a kind of machine governed by natural laws, same applied to human society -Locke believed everyone was born with natural rights, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness *He also believed everyone was born with a blank mind, or tabula rasa

4. The Enlightenment (cont’d) B. French philosophers, the Philosophes 1. Intellectuals of the Enlightenment were known as philosophes a. They believed the purpose of philosophy was to change the world for the better b. They championed reason above all else and wanted to apply it to everything: religion, politics, economics, society, etc. c. The French philosophes Montesquieu and Voltaire dominated Enlightenment thought -Their work would greatly influence governments and societies not just in France but all over the world, most notably the United States

5. The Enlightenment (cont’d) B. French philosophers, the Philosophes (cont’d) 2. Montesquieu used the scientific method to identify the natural laws that governed social and political relationships -In The Spirit of the Laws he identified three basic kinds of gov’t: *republics, despotism, and monarchies -He studies England gov’t and described its three branches : *executive, legislative, and judicial *He believed the gov’t functioned through a separation of powers, in which the branches could limit and control each other in a system of checks and balances *He decided it was a system that provided both freedom and security from one person (or group) having too much power 3. Voltaire was known for his pamphlets, letters, essays, plays, and histories -He believed in deism, an 18 th century religious philosophy based on reason and law -He focused on the Newtonian worldview and Locke’s natural rights

6. The Enlightenment (cont’d) C. Toward a New Social Science 1. The Enlightenment would lead to the development of social sciences, like economics and political science a. The Physiocrats were considered to be the founders of Economics -Believed that if individuals are free to pursue their own economic self-interest, all society ultimately benefits -Also believed that gov’t should not interrupt the “free play” of natural economic forces *the concept became known as laissez-faire : “let people do as they want” b. Adam Smith, a leading Physiocrat, was a big critic of Colbert’s mercantilism because it gave too much control to gov’t (absolute ruler) -He believed the natural laws of competition and supply and demand were better ways to control business ( capitalism ) -He wrote the Wealth of Nations in which suggested gov’t only has 3 basic roles: protect society form invasion, defending citizens from injustice, and maintianing the infrastructure

7. The Enlightenment (cont’d) D. The Later Enlightenment 1. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, most famous philosophe of the later Enlightenment a. He suggested that people had adopted laws and gov’t in order to rpotect their private property b. His most famous work was On the Social Contract -He explained a social contract is an agreement in which the entire society agrees to be governed by the general will c. Unlike other Enlightenment thinkers, Rousseau believed that emotions, as well as reason, were important to human development, one must seek a balance E. The Social World and Religion 1. A new middle class reading public emerged, included women and urbanites a. Daily newspapers and magazines for the general public were published b. Enlightenment ideas discussed in salons or elegant drawing rooms c. Many philosophes attacked Christianity, specifically the Church