1. Lesson 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Chapter 5.1
Enlightenment
Lesson 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason
Chapter 5.1

2. Objectives
Describe how scientific progress promoted trust in human reason.
Explain how the social contract and separation of powers affected views on government
Outline how new ideas affected society and the economy

3. Big Idea
Enlightenment thinkers tried to apply the law as of nature to human society. Their political ideas included the concepts of natural rights, separation of powers, checks and balances, and Freedom of thought. Their economic ideas included the policies of laissez faire and a free market.

4. Warm up
Please complete the “Do Now” activity on your daily notes sheet.

5. Focus Questions What is the role of government in our life?
How did government change throughout modern history?

6. Government during the Middle Ages
Absolutism
The “divine right of rule”
The feudal system

7. Progress and Reason Scientific Revolution Advancements in the 1700s
Joseph Priestley
Antoine Lavoisier
Edward Jenner- small pox
Natural Laws
Enlightenment

8. Think-Pair-Share
How did the achievements of the Scientific Revolution contribute to the Enlightenment?

9. Social Contract Hobbes Social contract Locke Leviathan
People are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish
Social contract
Gave up state of nature for an organized society
Locke
People are basically reasonable & moral
Natural Rights
Life, liberty, property
Two Treatises of Government
Govt to protect natural rights
People have the right to overthrow the govt

10. Think-Pair-Share
Who do you agree with more- Locke or Hobbes? Why.

11. Separation of Powers Montesquieu Spirit of Laws
Studied Euro govts
Spirit of Laws
3 branches- Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Checks and balances

12. Philosophes (“lovers of Wisdom”)
Voltaire
Francois-Marie Arouet
Targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats
Battled inequality, injustice and superstition
Freedom of speech
Exiled
Denis Diderot
28-volume Encyclopedia
Govt, philosophy, religion
Articles by leading thinkers
Denounced slavery, praised freedom of expression, urged edu
Critics
Govt- attack on public morals
Catholic Church

13. Philosophes Rousseau The Social Contract Poor upbringing
People in their natural state are basically good
The Social Contract
Some controls needed, but minimal
freely elected govts
Community above individual
Natural innocencce was corrupted by the evils of society; unequal distribution of property

14. Women Women and Enlightenment Salon Activity Limited rights
Excluded from Social Contract
Germaine de Stael
Catharine Macaulay
Mary Wollstonecraft
A Vindication of the Rights of Women

15. New Economic Thinking
Physiocrats- focus on economic reports, looking at rational laws to define economic system
Laissez-Faire
Business operates w/little to no govt
Adam Smith
British economist
The Wealth of Nations
Manufacturing, trade, wages, profits, and econ growth linked to supply and demand
Govt duty to protect society, administer justice, provide public works
Physiocrats rejected mercantilism (govt regulation on econ for balance of trade)
Physiocrats believed real wealth came from productive land; supported free trade and opposed tariffs or taxes on trade

16. Activity
Think of ways to remember the other philosophes. The cornier the better!!!

17. Closure
How did the new economic thinking reflect Enlightenment?