1. Mrs. Macdonald World History
Enlightenment
Mrs. Macdonald
World History

2. Background
In Europe, gov’t, laws & understanding of the world was based on the Catholic church before 1600s
Period called the “Dark Ages” or “Middle Ages” b/c not much learning going on, not many new ideas
Then, the Black Death hit Europe & ppl began questioning the church

3. Background
Questions led to movement called Renaissance which was a rebirth of art & learning
Subject of Renaissance art was not purely religious
After the Renaissance, ppl began to apply the same questions to government & society

4. Enlightenment
Movement that arose from that questioning was the Enlightenment
Intellectual movement that stressed power of ppl to think & solve problems
Used logic, rather than religion, to explain the world & ppl
Applied that logic to government

5. Definition
17th & 18th century movement in which thinkers applied reason & logic to all aspects of life (rather than religion)

6. Thomas Hobbes Ppl are evil &wicked
w/o gov’t to keep order, would be war of every man against another
To escape war, ppl needed to hand over freedom to gov’t for order (Social Contract)

7. John Locke All ppl born w/ 3 natural rights – life, liberty, property
Purpose of gov’t to protect rights
If a gov’t doesn’t protect rights, ppl have duty to overthrow it
Gov’t comes from consent of ppl
Basis for most revolutions

8. Plato & Aristotle
World works in organized ways; use logic to understand
Best gov’t not run by rich, but by wisest
Called wisest “philosopher kings”

9. Voltaire Used satire to attack stupidity
Argued for freedom of religion & freedom of speech

10. Montesquieu Humans naturally will want to increase power
To limit dangers, called for separation of power to keep one group from gaining all power
Also called checks & balances

11. Rousseau Only good gov’t was one in which people agreed to
“general will” of society must agree
Must be a direct democracy

12. Beccaria Thought laws existed to keep order
Against torturing witnesses, long trials, etc.
Said punishment should fit crime

13. Wollstonecraft Argued that women needed education to become useful
No gov’t should take away rights of any person – including women