1. The Enlightenment in Europe
A revolution in intellectual activity changes Europeans’ view of government and society.

2. Two Views on Government
New ways of thinking… Hobbes’s Social Contract
Two Views on Government

3. New Ways of Thinking
Scientific Revolution spurs reassessment of many prevailing ideas
- Europeans seek insights into society during 1600s, 1700s
Leads to the Enlightenment—a movement stressing reason and thought

4. Hobbes’s Social Contract
Hobbes distrusts humans, favors strong government to keep order
Promotes social contract—getting order by giving power to monarch
Wrote Leviathan. Believed people were naturally selfish and wicked
Believed an Absolute Monarchy was the best form of government.

5. Locke’s Natural Rights
Philosopher John Locke says government gets power from the people
Stresses that people have a right to overthrow an unjust government
Government’s only job was to protect the people’s rights.

6. The Philosophes Advocate Reason
Beliefs of the Philosophes
The philosophes are French social critics in the mid-1700s
Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, liberty
Reason – truth through reason or logical thinking.
Nature – what is natural is good and reasonable
Happiness – seek happiness on earth, not just in the hereafter
Progress – society and humankind could improve
Liberty – called for the liberties that the English won

7. Voltaire Combats Intolerance
Voltaire—(pen name) influential philosophe, François Marie Arouet
Publishes many works arguing for tolerance, reason
Makes powerful enemies and is imprisoned twice for his views
Used Satire against his opponents. (Irony, sarcasm or wit to attack folly, vice or stupidity) His attack was toward the clergy aristocracy, and government
“ I do not agree with a word you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

8. Montesquieu and the Separation of Powers
Baron de Montesquieu—French writer who admires Britain’s government system
Favors separation of powers to keep one body from running government. Power should be a check to a power… (What is this like in our government?)

9. Rousseau: Champion of Freedom
Jean Jacques Rousseau—philosophe who favors individual freedom, direct democracy
Views social contract as agreement by free people to form government.
People give up some of their freedom in favor of the common good.

10. Views on Women’s Education Change
Many Enlightenment thinkers take traditional views of women’s role
Prominent writer Mary Wollstonecraft urges greater rights for women:
- argues women need quality education to be virtuous and useful
- urges women to go into traditionally male professions like politics
• Some wealthy women use their status to spread Enlightenment ideas

11. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Role of the Philosophes
The philosophes are not activists, but inspire major revolutions
Belief in Progress
Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society
A More Secular Outlook
New knowledge of the world leads people to question religious ideas
Voltaire and others criticize beliefs and practices of Christianity