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The The EnlightenmentEnlightenment

The Age of The Age of ReasonReason

The Enlightenment was a 18The Enlightenment was a 18thth century century philosophical movement philosophical movement built on the built on the achievements of the Scientific Revolution.achievements of the Scientific Revolution.

Enlightenment philosophers hoped to Enlightenment philosophers hoped to make a better society by applying the make a better society by applying the scientific method and the use of reason to scientific method and the use of reason to social problems.social problems.

Enlightenment philosophers said society Enlightenment philosophers said society was governed by natural laws just like the was governed by natural laws just like the universe which Newton described.universe which Newton described.

Path to the Path to the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

1. Reason should be used at all times.1. Reason should be used at all times.

2. The search for new knowledge should always 2. The search for new knowledge should always continue.continue.

3. Prisoners should not be tortured. Justice systems 3. Prisoners should not be tortured. Justice systems should should improve.improve.

4. Slavery and warfare should be done away with.4. Slavery and warfare should be done away with.

5. Freedom of religion, speech, and press should be 5. Freedom of religion, speech, and press should be enjoyed by all.enjoyed by all.

6. Everyone deserves liberty and equality.6. Everyone deserves liberty and equality.

7. There should be public education for all, not just 7. There should be public education for all, not just the the rich.rich.

General Enlightenment General Enlightenment BeliefsBeliefs

PhilosophePhilosophe – French for philosopher. – French for philosopher. They wanted to improve the world through They wanted to improve the world through

rational criticism of beliefs in all areas.rational criticism of beliefs in all areas. They opposed special privileges for the rich, They opposed special privileges for the rich,

and divine right rulers.and divine right rulers. They opposed slavery, torture, religious They opposed slavery, torture, religious

persecution, and censorship.persecution, and censorship.LockeLocke, Montesquieu, Montesquieu, , VoltaireVoltaire, and , and MontesquieuMontesquieu are the best known are the best known philosophers.philosophers.

Philosophes and Their Philosophes and Their IdeasIdeas

People are born with a People are born with a tabula rosatabula rosa, , or blank slate.or blank slate. All people are equal.All people are equal. The right influence and The right influence and

environment for the young could environment for the young could create a new way of create a new way of understanding and lead to a understanding and lead to a better society.better society.

People are born with People are born with natural rightsnatural rights.. Life, liberty, and propertyLife, liberty, and property

People have the right to choose People have the right to choose their government. their government. Social ContractSocial Contract.. Government gets the right to Government gets the right to

rule from the people.rule from the people. Citizens have the right to Citizens have the right to

overthrow a government that overthrow a government that violates their natural rights.violates their natural rights.

John John LockeLocke

The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws (1748) (1748) Studied governments to find natural Studied governments to find natural

laws governing social and political laws governing social and political relationships.relationships. Identified 3 types of government – Identified 3 types of government –

republics, despotism, and republics, despotism, and monarchies.monarchies.

Absolute rulers limit basic rights like Absolute rulers limit basic rights like the freedoms of speech, press, and the freedoms of speech, press, and religion.religion.

All nations should decrease their All nations should decrease their military to reduce the threat of war.military to reduce the threat of war.

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

BranchesBranches Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

One branch should not have total One branch should not have total power.power.

Charles-Charles-Louis de Louis de Baron de Baron de

MontesquiMontesquieueu

Criticized Christianity.Criticized Christianity. Religious myths and ceremonies do Religious myths and ceremonies do

nothing to make man better and nothing to make man better and should be ignored.should be ignored.

Believe only those things about Believe only those things about God that are based on God that are based on reason and reason and common sensecommon sense..

Deism Deism The world is like a clock. The world is like a clock. God created it and left it alone to God created it and left it alone to

run according to natural laws run according to natural laws without his intervention. without his intervention.

““Clockwork Universe.”Clockwork Universe.” The scientist is more important than The scientist is more important than

the conquering general.the conquering general.

Francois-Marie Arouet, Francois-Marie Arouet, (Voltaire)(Voltaire)

Social ContractSocial Contract (1762) - (1762) - members of a society agree to members of a society agree to be governed by the general will be governed by the general will of the people.of the people.

Emile – Emile – education should education should nurture, not restrict children’s nurture, not restrict children’s natural instincts.natural instincts.

Compared to man in the stone Compared to man in the stone age, modern man is unhappy, age, modern man is unhappy, insecure, and greedy.insecure, and greedy.

Social and political reform Social and political reform must be made before man must be made before man can become a good person.can become a good person.

Jean Jacques Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau

EncyclopediaEncyclopedia (1751)(1751) 28 volumes28 volumes Argued for religious Argued for religious

toleration and social toleration and social improvements to make improvements to make society more humane.society more humane.

Denis DiderotDenis Diderot

Adam Smith – Adam Smith – Wealth of Wealth of NationsNations (1776)(1776)

Scottish economistScottish economist ““Invisible HandInvisible Hand” – prices ” – prices

set by supply and demand.set by supply and demand. Government has three Government has three

functionsfunctions

1.1. Protect society from Protect society from invasioninvasion

2.2. Defend the society Defend the society from crimefrom crime

3.3. Maintain public Maintain public worksworks Adam Adam

Smith Smith

Group of French Economists who believed Group of French Economists who believed that the wealth of nations comes from the that the wealth of nations comes from the value of "land agriculture" or "land value of "land agriculture" or "land development." development."

Their emphasis was on productive work as Their emphasis was on productive work as the source of national wealth…the source of national wealth…

Laissez-faireLaissez-faire – (“ – (“let the people dolet the people do”)”)Governments should not interfere with economic Governments should not interfere with economic choices through regulation. choices through regulation. *HANDS OFF* *HANDS OFF*

PhysiocraPhysiocratsts

A Vindication of the Rights of A Vindication of the Rights of WomenWomen She is considered the founder of the She is considered the founder of the

European and American women’s rights European and American women’s rights movements.movements.

Mary Wollstonecraft Mary Wollstonecraft

Began Methodism.Began Methodism. Preached that the gift of God’s grace Preached that the gift of God’s grace

was the way to salvation.was the way to salvation. Stressed the importance of good Stressed the importance of good

works.works. Helped lead the “Helped lead the “Great AwakeningGreat Awakening” ”

in the American Colonies.in the American Colonies.John John WesleyWesley

The Enlightenment took The Enlightenment took the tools of the Scientific the tools of the Scientific Revolution and applied Revolution and applied them to society.them to society.

The ideals of the The ideals of the Enlightenment led to the Enlightenment led to the American and French American and French Revolutions which Revolutions which changed the world.changed the world.

ConclusioConclusionn