1. Section 1 Philosophy in the Age of Reason The Enlightenment
Chapter 18
Section 1
Philosophy in the Age
of Reason
The Enlightenment
Chapter 18
Section 1
Philosophy in the Age of Reason
The Enlightenment

2. The Enlightenment Also called “The Age of Reason”
People fighting back against ideas that have no scientific proof (Superstition, Divine Right, and Tyranny)
Enlightenment thinkers promoted goals of material well-being, social justice, and worldly happiness

3. 1700’s Scientific Thinking
Using methods of modern science, reformers set out to study human behavior and solve the problems of society

4. A World of Progress and Reason
The Enlightenment grew out of the Scientific revolution (1500’s-1600’s)
Scientific Successes created great confidence in the power of reason
If people use reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use them to discover natural laws

5. Natural Laws Laws that govern human nature
Wanted to solve every social, political, and economic problem

6. The Social Contract 2 Views
Two English thinkers:
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke
Their ideas would be key to the Enlightenment
Different ideas on human nature and the purpose and nature of Government

7. Thomas Hobbes John Locke

8. Thomas Hobbes Set out his ideas in his book The leviathan
Said “People are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish”
If they are not controlled they would fight, rob, and oppress

9. Thomas Hobbes
Life in the “state of nature” without laws or other control- would be “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short
To escape this brutal life Hobbs states that humans enter into a Social Contract, or an agreement by which they give up the “state of nature” for an organized society

10. Thomas Hobbes
Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society
Such a government was an absolute monarchy
An absolute monarchy could impose order and compel obedience

11. John Locke A more optimistic view of human nature
Said people are “basically reasonable and moral”
People have Natural Rights: Rights that belonged to all humans from birth
The Right to Life, Liberty, and Property

12. Two Treatises of Government
Book written by Locke
Said people form government to protect their natural rights
The best kind of government had limited powers and was accepted by the people

13. Locke’s radical idea
A government has an obligation to those it governs
If government fails its obligations or violates people’s natural rights the people have the right to overthrow the government
This idea would echo throughout the world for centuries to come

14. Montesquieu’s Spirit of the laws
French Enlightenment thinkers
Studied governments all over Europe
Sharp criticism of an Absolute Monarchy
Published The Spirit of the Laws

15. The Spirit of the Laws He discusses various forms of government
Admires England’s limited monarchy
Thought that England protected itself by dividing the powers of government among 3 branches (Although he was wrong because at this point Britain had not separated its powers this way)
Legislature
Executive
Judiciary

16. Montesquieu Continued
Felt that separation of powers was the best form of government
Felt that each branch could serve as a “Check” on the other powers
His ideas would show up about 40 years later in the US constitution

17. Philosophes From France Group of Enlightenment thinkers
Apply methods of science to improve society
Philosophes: Lovers of wisdom

18. Voltaire Francois-Marie Arouet, but took the name Voltaire
Probably the most famous of the Philosophes
Targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats
Detested the slave trade and religious prejudice

19. Voltaire (Continued)
Offended the government and the Catholic Church

20. The Encyclopedia Written by Denis Diderot
Change the general way of thinking
Included articles by leading thinkers of the day
Denounced slavery, praised freedom, urged for the education of all
The French government said the Encyclopedia was an attack on morals

21. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Most controversial of the Philosophe
Believed people in their natural state were basically good
Natural innocence was corrupted by the evils of the society (Especially the unequal distribution of property)

22. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

23. Rousseau wrote The Social Contract
“Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains”
In consenting to form a government people give up their self interest for the common good

24. Limited “Natural Rights” for woman
Natural rights applied to woman only in the home and family
Many woman believed only education could give woman the tools they needed to participate equally with men in public life

25. New Economic Thinking
Physiocrats: focused on economic reforms, looked for natural law to define a rational economic system
Laissez Faire: allowing business to operate with little interference from government
Physiocrats said that real wealth comes from making the land more productive
Agriculture, mining, and logging

26. Adam Smith British Economist Wrote The Wealth of Nations
Free Market: Natural forces of supply and demand should be allowed to regulate the economy
Supported laissez faire economics
Government had a duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public works
Gained a lot of popularity as the Industrial Revolution increased across the world

27. Adam Smith