1. The ENLIGHTENMENT / AGE of REASON
Influences:
Scientific Revolution
Idea of Natural Law (cause and effect)
New faith in Reason and Analysis
Sense of human mastery over nature

2. ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS
Applying Reason to understand human nature and society
People must live according to natural law to live in harmony
Notion of Progress - LAWS and SOCIETY can be tools for shaping people’s behavior
Philosophies - critics of society
Enlightened Despotism - Absolute Rule by Enlightenment principles huh??

4. Diderot The Encyclopedia
supported experimental methods in philosophy and science
to promote knowledge

5. Montesquieu
“It is better to let 100 guilty men go free than to imprison one innocent man.”
“Spirit of the Laws” - Comparison of gov’ts.
British is best form
Gov’ts should represent interests of many
Separation of Powers
Rule of Law

6. Voltaire
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Tolerance
Religion
Democracy
“France should learn the free political system of England. Religious tolerance is essential.”
“CANDIDE”

7. Rousseau “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
SOCIAL CONTRACT- People are born good, but are corrupted
The duty of gov’t is to protect its people; thus the people should be loyal to their gov’t/country
Equality - Classless society
Gov’t should work for the benefit o/t common good, not the wealthy few
General Will:
King's power comes from people, not by God. The government represents the "general will" of people.
Popular Sovereignty: the right to rule by the _____ _

9. The SOCIAL CONTRACT
Locke: By the "Social Contract", people set up the government and give it power to protect their own rights.
“… all people are born equal with the natural rights of life, liberty and property.”
US Declaration of Independence
Hobbes: By the “Social Contract”, . . .
“LEVIATHAN”
Life is “solitary, nasty, brutish ans short”

10. ADAM SMITH Economic philosopher “Wealth of Nations” Free Market
aka? ______________
Laissez-faire
“leave alone”
SUPPLY & DEMAND
Supply & Demand graph