Enlightenment & it’s Thinkers

ENLIGHTENMENT IS DEFINED AS….

Philosophical movement in Europe that stressed the importance of reason.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Belief that world problems could be solved (Scientific Rev).

New ideas debated in coffeehouses.

Writers published ideas.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ENLIGHTENMENT Reason was a better guide than faith or tradition.Political thinkers applied reason & scientific ideas to government.

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHES

A. Jean Rousseau - Known For…- Most controversial philosopher of the Enlightenment.- Community over the individual. - Wrote: Social Contract

A. Jean Rousseau - Beliefs:- People will give up their freedoms to benefit society. - People vote on decisions & live by those decisions. - People are inherently good & make good decisions.

B. John Locke - Known For…

- Natural Rights: Everyone should/can defend their Life, Health, & Possessions.- Government for the people by the people. - Wrote: Two Treatises of Government

B. John Locke- Beliefs:- Governments are established to defend people’s natural rights.- Government should have limited power.

DENIS DIDEROTWrote a 28-volume set – Encyclopedia

Purpose – to change the general way of thinking

Explained new thinking on government and philosophy

DENIS DIDEROTDenounced slavery, praised freedom of expression, urged education for all

Attacked divine-right theory

Catholics threatened to excommunicate all who bought it

C. Baron de Montesquieu- Known For…- First real idea of multiple governments. (Democracy, Monarchy, Autocracy) - Creator of the idea of branches of government.

- Executive, Legislative & Judicial- Wrote: Spirit of Laws

C. Baron de Montesquieu- Beliefs:- Against the idea of absolute power. - Believed in separation of powers & system of checks and balances.

D. Voltaire - Known For…- Greatest thinker of the Enlightenment. - Strong dislike of the Catholic Church.

- He blamed the church for keeping knowledge from the people to maintain its power.

- Wrote: Manner of Spirits of Nations

D. Voltaire - Beliefs:- Government is the down fall of the world; targeted corrupt officials.- Detested the slave trade & religious prejudice.- Wanted to end bigotry & tyranny.

E. Thomas Hobbes - Known For…- People should conform to a government because the alternative is a violent death all men should fear.- The idea of a State of Nature

(a world without structure) - Wrote: The Leviathan

E. Thomas Hobbes- Beliefs:- Powerful government.- People are naturally cruel & selfish.- If not controlled, people will fight, rob, & oppress.

F. Mary Wollstonecraft- Known For…- All humans can reason, because women can reason, they should have the same rights as men. - Wrote: A Vindication of the Rights of Women.

F. Mary Wollstonecraft- Beliefs:- Women should have equal rights in education, work, & politics.- Believed women should be good mothers first, but women offered so much more.

John Locke•Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.•To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract.•Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.•Believed only an absolute monarchy could keep a society completely orderly.

•Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good•Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property•People form governments to protect natural rights•Best government was one with limited power•If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government

Thomas Hobbes