The Enlightenment

Reading Focus

• How was the Enlightenment influenced by reason?

• What new views did philosophers have about government?

• What new views did philosophers have about society?

• How did Enlightenment spread?

Main Idea

European thinkers developed new ideas about government and society during the Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment

What is Reason?Reason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs

The Age of Reason

Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about power of reason • Scientific method and reason led to discoveries about

physical world • Wondered if reason could be used to study human

nature, society– New generation of philosophers, 1600s– Viewed reason as best way to understand truth– Concluded reason could be used to solve all human

problems– This time of optimism now called the Enlightenment

Intellectual Movement

• During the 18th century, certain thinkers and writers, primarily in London and Paris, believed that they were more enlightened than their compatriots and set out to enlighten them.

Voltaire

Locke Diderot

Rousseau

• Educated people throughout Europe and beyond were inspired

• Held notion that world problems could be solved

• New ideas debated in coffeehouses, public spaces

• Writers published ideas in books, magazines, pamphlets

Ideas of Enlightenment

• Reached peak in 1700s

• Paris, center of intellectual activity

• Parisian women hosted social gatherings, salons

• Philosophers, artists, scientists, writers regularly discussed ideas

Peak of Enlightenment

The Age of Reason

Find the Main Idea

What exciting conclusion did philosophers reach during the Enlightenment?

Answer(s): Reason could be used to solve all human problems.

View of Government, Society

• Believed government should work for common good, not wealthy few

• Individuals should give up some freedoms for benefit of community

• Despised (hated) inequality in society

• Views inspired revolutionaries in years to come

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• French philosopher, believed people are basically good

• Believed society corrupted people

• Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all members of society and their government.

New Views on Government

Social Contract ExplainedIn The Social Contract, Rousseau explained his political theories, which would later influence the writers of the United States Constitution as well as the leaders of the French Revolution. "Man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains." Because humans are corrupted by society, all people must enter into a social contract that requires people to recognize a collective "good will," which represents the common good or public interest. All citizens should participate and should be committed to the good of all, even if it is not in their personal best interest. He believed that living for the common good promotes liberty and equality.

As the Enlightenment began, European thinkers began looking for ways to apply reason in order to improve the human condition.

•English thinker, wrote views of government in Leviathan

•Absolute monarchy best

•Believed people needed government to impose order– People selfish, greedy– Should exchange some

freedoms for peace, safety, order

– Social contract

Thomas Hobbes

• English philosopher, believed all people born equal

• Government should protect people’s natural rights– Monarchs not chosen by

God– Government by consent– Power limited by laws– Ideas foundation for

modern democracy

John Locke

New Views on Government

Make Inferences

Why was the subject of government so important to Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau?

Answer(s): Each philosopher had strong opinions about the power and purpose of government.

Draw Conclusions

How successful were the reforms of the enlightened despots?

Answer(s): They were successful but limited by political opposition.

1. What was the enlightenment? (hint: European thinkers developed new ideas about what?)

2. What could be used to solve all human problems?3. In which two cities did the enlightenment begin?4. What did these thinkers believe?5. Did these thinkers publish their ideas? If so, where?6. Where was the center of intellectual activity?7. According to Rousseau, what corrupted people?8. What did Rousseau write?9. What did Rousseau believe about the government?10.What did Rousseau despise (hate)?11.What is the social contract?12.What does "Man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains" mean?13.What book did Thomas Hobbes write?14.Which government did Hobbes think was the most efficient way to govern?15.According to Hobbes what were the three reasons people needed

government?16.What did John Locke believe about people? They are all born___________17.Locke believed power should be limited by what?