1. October 27th, 2011 Deep Thought Question
Read this quote by P.J. O’Rourke about government…
“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”
What does this say about government?
Do you agree? Why or why not?
GET YOUR CLICKER

2. Random Fact of the Day
An average person will eat 35,000 cookies in their life.

3. Announcements Pages on desk go in DAILY WORK section
Second Notebook Check information coming next week
Facebook Projects due TOMORROW!

4. CORE IDEAS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

5. What is a philosophe?
A philosophe was a social thinker who could apply reason to all aspects of life
Based mostly in France thanks to Paris’s position as the social and intellectual center of Europe

6. BELIEF #1: REASON
Reason – Enlightened thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking
Before this period, what sources had people used to find the truth?
The Bible
Whatever the Church said
Ancient Greek and Roman sources

7. BELIEF #2: NATURE
Nature: The philosophes believed that whatever was natural was also good and reasonable

8. BELIEF #3: HAPPINESS
Happiness: The philosophes rejected the medieval notion that people should find joy in the hereafter and urged people to seek well-being on Earth

9. BELIEF #4: PROGRESS
Progress: The philosophes stressed that society and humankind could improve
What things have we studied so far show that humanity has been “progressing?” Inventions, discoveries, etc.?
On the other hand, what “bad” and “evil” things have been happening?

10. BELIEF #5: LIBERTY
The philosophes called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights
What types of rights were guaranteed in these periods of English history?
Free Speech
Right to Bear Arms
Permanency of Parliament
Protection against search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, etc.

11. Question…
WHICH OF THESE CORE BELIEFS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT IS IN YOUR OPINION THE MOST RELEVANT IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY? REASON NATURE HAPPINESS PROGRESS LIBERTY

12. ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS GUIDED NOTES

13. Thomas Hobbes Lived and learned through the English Civil War
People are by nature dishonest, cruel, greedy, selfish, and wicked. Without government, life would be short
People should enter a social contract with their government so the gov’t can provide law and order
The government should be ruled by an absolute monarch

14. John Locke
Believes that people have the ability to govern themselves and learn from their mistakes
People are born free with natural rights of life, liberty, and property
People should give some of their rights up to allow a government to rule for them, so the government can protect the people
If government does not protect rights, the people have the right to overthrow the government

15. Clicker Question
What should people do to a government if they fail to protect their three basic rights?
Suffer through them and elect a new one come Election Day
Overthrow, or reelect, the parts of government which are the worst
Overthrow the government and start over

16. Voltaire Used sarcasm to attack his foes
Believed in freedom of speech and expression and despised intolerance, prejudice, and superstition
A huge opponent of organized religion, such as the Catholic Church
“I do not agree with a word you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

17. Jean Jacques Rousseau
Thinks that civilization ruins the natural goodness in people
The only good form of government was one formed by the people – direct democracy…no kings or queens
People should give up some of their basic freedoms for the sake of the common good
All people should be equal in society

18. Clicker Question Voltaire believes in what freedom? Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Right to Bear Arms

19. The Baron de Montesquieu
In his day, he believed the British form of government was best
Advocated for three branches of government…saw the danger in one ruler having too much power
The Founding Fathers took from his idea of branches of government while drafting the Constitution

20. Clicker Question
How are Montesquieu’s ideas visible in our government?
Split between federal and state government
Term limits for elected officials
A two-house legislature
Three branches of government

21. Cesare Beccaria
Laws should not be used to avenge crimes but to preserve social order
Wrote about the judicial branch of government
Government should seek to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people