1. The Enlightenment
Tara Madsen

2. Path to the Enlightenment
Enlightenment: 18th century movement of intellectuals who were impressed with the Scientific Revolution
They centered all ideas around the word “reason”
Reason dealt with logical thinking…

3. John Locke
Argued that every person was born with a tabula rasa… this just means a blank mind
He thought that people were molded and shaped by their environment and experiences
John Locke developed the Social Compact Theory… see board for explanation

4. Isaac Newton
Believed that the world worked like a giant machine and operated according to natural laws… these laws could be uncovered through investigation
Example: law of gravity

5. Montesquieu
A French noble who is famous for his work The Spirit of the Laws which was a study of governments.
Montesquieu identified three types of governments
1. Republics
2. Despotism
3. Monarchies
Montesquieu also pushed for the idea of a separation of powers… In this model, a government has different branches that “check” each other’s power.

6. Voltaire
Strongly critical of Christianity and pushed for religious tolerance
He was from Paris, France
From a prosperous, middle class family

7. Diderot Went to the University of Paris
Became a writer, studying many subjects and languages
Diderot’s major contribution was the Encyclopedia which quickly spread Enlightenment ideas throughout France

8. Smith on Economics Adam Smith: Wrote Wealth of Nations
In his writing, he suggests that the only way to properly run an economy is by a technique known as laissez-faire (meaning to leave alone)
In his book, he discusses three things that drive the economy… 1. Competition 2. The Free Market 3. Capitalism

9. Other Enlightenment Thinkers
Mary Wollstonecraft… English writer… Enlightenment figure who pushed for Women’s Rights
John Wesley… Anglican minister… Father of the Methodist Church