1. What?
Enlightenment – a cultural movement of intellectuals beginning in late 17th and 18th century Europe emphasizing reason & individualism rather than tradition
Philosophe – people who were looking to reform society along the lines of reason and logic
Centered in PARIS (France)

2. Key Ideas Reason Nature and Natural Laws Happiness
Humans should figure problems out rather than depend on miracles
Nature and Natural Laws
Natural laws regulate both the universe and human society
Happiness
People don’t have to be miserable in this life to be “holy”…they have a right to happiness

3. And Some More Key Ideas Progress Liberty Toleration
Discoveries and advances in government, economics, and sciences can make life better
Liberty
People should live in societies with little restrictions of speech, religion, and trade
Toleration
People should accept others’ differences

4. Thomas Hobbes The Older, Cranky Guy Who Doesn’t Fit In
Lived and learned through the English Civil War
People are by nature dishonest, cruel, greedy, etc. Without government, life would be short
People should enter a social contract with their government so the gov’t can provide law and order
Gov’t – absolute monarch

5. John Locke You’re welcome, America
Two Treatises of Civil Government (1690)
Human beings are good people in their state of nature
Government protects natural rights of the people only when the governed give consent
Life, liberty, and property
People have right to rebel IF the gov’t does not protect their natural rights

6. John Locke You’re welcome, America
Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)
A person’s environment influences their development
Tabula rasa – human mind born as a “blank slate” and learns from its experiences
For progress to occur, people must be educated properly

7. Voltaire The Smart “Donkey”
Wrote with sarcasm and wit
Challenged traditional Catholic theology
Didn’t believe in prayer and miracles – reason should rule
HATED intolerance and bigotry (Catholic Church)
“Crush the infamous thing”
Advocated “enlightened” kings ruling over the people

8. Jean Jacques Rousseau The Hippie
Trusted emotions and feelings more than cold logic
Social Contract (1762)
The general will, or a consensus of the majority, should control the country
Rulers are servants of the community

9. Jean Jacques Rousseau The Hippie
Man had been corrupted by materialism…in simpler times could be good (noble savage)
Emile (1762)
Education must be individualized
“Discovery learning”

10. Baron de Montesquieu The Turtle
A French noble
Spirit of the Laws (1748)
Called for separation of powers in government
Supported a “checks and balances” model
GOAL – prevent tyranny and support liberty

11. Cesare di Beccaria The Kind Heart
On Crimes and Punishment (1764)
Sought to humanize criminal law
Punishment of crime should be based on the level of damage it does to society
Opposed death penalty and use of torture

12. Denis Diderot The Nerd Chief editor of the Encyclopedia
Goal – bring together thinking in all areas to one source
Banned by governments and the Church

13. Immanuel Kant The German
Greatest German thinker of the Enlightenment
Science could describe nature, but it could not provide a guide for morality
“Categorical imperative” – an intuitive instinct placed by God in the human conscience