1. Age of Enlightenment Mr. Epps World History Chapter 17 SSWH13
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Mr. Epps
World History
Chapter 17
SSWH13

2. Key Elements
War constantly between religious groups (Protestant vs. Catholic)
Ideas were either approved or denied by hierarchy thus forming philosophical differences in given European countries
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3. Key Elements
A philosophical movement in 18th Century Europe that fostered a belief that one could reform society by discovering rational laws that governed social behavior
Scientific discoveries continued to challenge the thinking of society
A movement of a few individuals who had their works burned frequently and some put to exile

4. Thomas Hobbes
England: to save people from destroying themselves, a state must be formed (Leviathan)
People in a state agree to be ruled by an absolute ruler with unlimited power to suppress rebellions
Needed in order to keep order in society
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5. Leviathan

6. John Locke and “Natural Rights”
1690: Two Treatises of Government
Very radical for the times, argued against absolutism of one ruler
Wanted government of many people to run the state and to protect its people
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7. John Locke and “Natural Rights”
Believed that humans were peaceful before societal rule and that every person had “natural rights.”; born with “tabula rasa,” a clean slate
“life, liberty, & property”
If government broke these rights, people can remove the government to form a new one
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8. Philosophers
Montesquieu: Developed “separation of powers” (legislative, judicial, executive”; system of checks and balances
Voltaire: believed in deism, that God created the universe and left it alone to run itself like a clock
questioned the relevance of the bible and the church in daily life
admired England and its toleration of the arts and sciences
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9. Philosophers Jean- Jacques Rousseau
his “social contract” theory showed that an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will; not fond of children and women’s rights; own children put in orphanages
blamed evil in the world on uneven property distribution
humans are essentially good but are corrupted as they live in this world
society is the source of evil
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