2. Major Ideas Of the Enlightenment
Ch. 17, Sect. 2
Major Ideas Of the Enlightenment
Laissez-Faire
Deism
Separation Of Power
Reason
Social Contract
Progress
Natural Law
Religious Tolerance

3. Philosophy & Reason Rene Descartes “I think, therefore I am
Doubt dominates our thoughts
Because “the mind cannot be doubted but the body and material world can, the two must be radically different”
Father of rationalism
Rationalism-
-reason is the chief source of knowledge

4. John Locke (England) Everyone is born with a blank mind.
Molded by experiences.
Natural Rights – “Life, Liberty, & Property”
Government should protect these rights

5. The Philosophes “French” for philosophers
Believed people could apply reason to all aspects of life
If natural laws apply to physical world, they could also apply to human society

6. Montesquieu (French Noble)
Studied Gov’ts
Influenced U.S. Constitution.
Used scientific method on politics
Believed in Separation of Powers (checks and balances)
Each branch has power over the other
“Power should be a check to power”
Example: British/U.S. gov’t

7. Montesquieu 3 types: Republics Small states – voice of the people
Despotism
Large states - absolute power
Monarchies
Moderate sized states – power dispersed
Three Branches of government
Executive
Legislative
Judicial

8. Voltaire (France)
Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, & freedom of speech
(Bill of Rights)
Deism –religious philosophy based on reason & natural law (Clock)
God (Clockmaker) lets universe run by itself
Criticized the church
Criticized the French Government

9. Denis Diderot (France)
Writer of the Encyclopedia
Classified Dictionary of Sciences, Arts, and Trades (28 volumes)
Challenged the general way of thinking
Called for many social, political, legal, and religious reforms

10. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Social Contract…
an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will
Everyone does what’s best for the whole.
Emotion and reason are important to human development.
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

11. Adam Smith Writes The Wealth of Nations Laissez Faire Economics:
To let alone/hands off
Government stays away from business
Basis of capitalism
State should not regulate the economy

12. 1.) According to Adam Smith, why do people produce and sell products?
Critical Thinking (550)
1.) According to Adam Smith, why do people produce and sell products?
Personal Gain
2.) What do you think Smith means by “an invisible hand?”
economic factors are not visible to participants, they guide participants to act to benefit society

13. Mary Wollstonecraft (England)
Fought for Women’s rights
Argued that power over women was just as wrong as the power monarchs had over their subjects
“Let women share the right and she will emulate the virtues of men, for she must grow more perfect when emancipated”