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Enlightenment  Ideas of Enlightenment Thought: - The universe can be understood through reason - Human experience is the basis for understanding the truth.

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Presentation on theme: "Enlightenment  Ideas of Enlightenment Thought: - The universe can be understood through reason - Human experience is the basis for understanding the truth."— Presentation transcript:

1 Enlightenment  Ideas of Enlightenment Thought: - The universe can be understood through reason - Human experience is the basis for understanding the truth - Religion has no place in the understanding of the physical universe

2 John Locke (1630s-1700s)  Locke believed people could learn and improve themselves through their experiences  Believed in the idea that all people are born with 3 basic natural rights:  life, liberty, and property and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights  A government’s power comes from the people

3 John Locke  P. 485  Locke's Two Treatises of Civil Government were published after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.  In this work Locke gives us a theory of natural law and natural rights which he uses to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate civil governments, and to argue for the legitimacy of revolt against tyrannical governments.

4 John Locke  Locke wrote on a variety of other topics Among the most important of these is toleration.  Henry VIII had created a Church of England when he broke with Rome. This Church was the official religion of England. Catholics and dissenting Protestants were subject to legal prosecution.  In a "Letter Concerning Toleration" and several defenses of that letter Locke argues for a separation between church and state.

5 John Locke  His Ideas:  Natural rights—life, liberty, and property  Right to rebel  For the individual  use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities.

6 John Locke  Impact:  Fundamental to U. S. Declaration of Independence

7 Voltaire  Used satire to attack the French government and clergy  Fought for tolerance, reason, and the freedoms of religion and speech  Used his writings to defend his beliefs “I may disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire

8  In his book Philosophical Letters, he was impressed with the British political system of 3 branches of government  He became famous as a champion of religious freedom and freedom of thought

9 Voltaire  His Ideas:  Freedom of thought and expression  Religious freedom

10 Voltaire  Impact:  Guaranteed in U.S. Bill of Rights, & French Declaration or Rights of Man, European monarchs reduce or eliminate censorship  European monarchs reduce persecution

11 Rousseau  Wrote “The Social Contract” in which he discussed the role of the people and government, and that all people were equal  Called for the end of nobility which helped to spark the French Revolution

12 Rousseau  People are naturally good, but that environment, education, and laws corrupt them  Good government must be based on popular sovereignty  Did not trust reason  Opposed a strong government which set him apart from others

13 Rousseau  Most philosophies disliked absolute monarchy.  They favored enlightened despotism  The absolute monarch would rule but according to the principles of the Enlightenment  His ideas on government and individual freedom became most influential during the later years of the Enlightenment

14 Rousseau  His Ideas:  Legitimate power comes from the people

15 Rousseau  Impact:  Fundamental to U.S. Declaration of Independence  U.S. Constitution  American Revolution


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