1. The Enlightenment

2. Roots in the Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution came about as a result of the Renaissance and continued through the 17th & 18th centuries
It rejected traditional authority and church teachings in favor of direct observation & study of nature
The basis of this revolution was the Scientific Method

3. Important Figures of Scientific Revolution
Scientists began to discover that the motions of objects could be predicted by mathematics
Robert Boyle is known as the “Father of Chemistry.”
He is one of the 1st scientists to perform controlled experiments and to publish his work in detail
Sir Isaac Newton was the most influential thinker of the Scientific Revolution
He connected the speed of falling objects on earth to the movement of planets: The Law of Gravity
Newton’s discovery raised hopes that all of the universe acted according to certain fixed and fundamental laws.

5. The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was sparked by the progress of the scientific revolution
The Enlightenment was an important 18th century European movement where thinkers believed by applying reason and scientific laws, people would be better able to understand both nature and one another.
They applied the new scientific method to society and its problems
At the Core of the Enlightenment was a questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals

6. Major ideas Questioned
The Divine Right of Kings
Where rulers derived their power from
The hereditary privileges of the nobility
The power of the Catholic Church
Christianity & Religion
The Rights of Men

7. Natural Laws
Enlightenment philosophers believed that nature and society operated according to certain basic universal principles, which they referred to as “natural laws”
They believed people could use their reason to discover these laws and then apply this knowledge to improve their quality of life

8. Early Enlightenment focus: End Cruelty and excessive Violence
Following the Wars of Religion, in Europe, enlightenment thinkers began to favor religious toleration
To avoid senseless killing
They, generally, opposed torture

9. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Born into a time of chaos in England
Based his philosophy on his view of the state of nature
Life was nasty, brutish, and short: Individuals totally self-interested
Rabbit example: ________________
Without a strong central authority life would become like the state of nature.
Consequently, Hobbes believed kings were justified in seizing absolute power because only they could act impartially to maintain order in society.
Hobbes wrote Leviathan, justifying his support of an Absolute Monarchy

10. Hobbes believed that as long as kings kept their population’s safe, they should remain in power.

11. John Locke (1632-1704) Another famous English philosopher
Locke challenged the view of rulers ruling by Divine Right
He based his view on this state of nature:
Believed individuals were strategically self-interested with an eye to the future
Rabbit example: _____________________
Also, individuals are free in this state
They only join together in a community to protect themselves & make a better living
The community hands power to government in a “social contract”
Therefore, the main purpose was to protect life, liberty, and property
Therefore, he believed people had the right to revolt when the government abused its power

12. Voltaire (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Philosopher
Famous for his wit & humor in making fun of common beliefs
He supported
Freedom of religion
Freedom of expression
Freedom of trade
Separation of Church & State
Views were very influential in later revolutions

13. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Believed state of nature was peaceful between humans
Thought people should be organized in small groups and should seek a consensus on major decisions
Government, therefore, should express the “General Will” of the people.

14. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Wrote the Spirit of Laws
Argued for a separation of powers in government
Encouraged the development of a system of checks and balances
All ideas centered around the best way to limit abuses of power

15. Adam Smith ( )
Described Capitalism in his book, “The Wealth of Nations”
Explained how competition and the division of labor help to guide a free-market economic system based on self-interest
Competing Bakeries
Invisible hand of market corrects problems
Argued that government should follow a laissez-faire, or “hands off,” policy towards the economy.

16. Enlightened Despotism
Enlightened despots were absolute monarchs who tried to use Enlightenment ideas to reform their societies “from above.”
They often came from countries without a strong middle-class and they believed it was up to the ruler to introduce positive changes.
They instituted religious tolerance, established scientific academies, and promoted social reform
However, they rarely supported the sharing of political power
Examples include:
Catherine the Great- Russia
Frederick the Great- Prussia
Joseph II- Austria