The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of Enlightenment

1700s-1800s1700s-1800s

The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of EnlightenmentThe EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment, a philosophical movement , a philosophical movement beginning in France that advocated beginning in France that advocated ReasonReason and and logiclogic as the basis of authority and all decisions and as the basis of authority and all decisions and using reason and logic to solve social problemsusing reason and logic to solve social problems

The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of EnlightenmentMany of the United States' Many of the United States' Founding FathersFounding Fathers were heavily were heavily influenced by Enlightenment-era ideas:(1600s-1800s)influenced by Enlightenment-era ideas:(1600s-1800s)– particularly in the religious sphere (separation of church and particularly in the religious sphere (separation of church and

state) state) – And in the political sphere (a major influence on the And in the political sphere (a major influence on the U.S. U.S.

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of EnlightenmentHeavily influenced by the Heavily influenced by the Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution in Europe in Europe during the 1600sduring the 1600s

– Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution: the time : the time period where scientists in period where scientists in Europe began to observe, Europe began to observe, hypothesize, and experiment hypothesize, and experiment to reach conclusions about the to reach conclusions about the natural worldnatural world

Challenged prevailing religious Challenged prevailing religious beliefs and the Catholic beliefs and the Catholic Church’s authority on all Church’s authority on all things relating to the natural things relating to the natural world: world: Ex Ex GalileoGalileo was excommunicated was excommunicated from the Church for arguing that from the Church for arguing that the Earth revolved around the sun the Earth revolved around the sun (Helio-centered universe) instead (Helio-centered universe) instead of other way aroundof other way around

Developed the Developed the Scientific Scientific MethodMethod

PhilosophesPhilosophes

Enlightenment Enlightenment philosophers philosophers who met to discuss reason, who met to discuss reason, logic, rationale, and how to logic, rationale, and how to solve social problemssolve social problems

believed in using the believed in using the scientific method to solve scientific method to solve social problemssocial problems

were against were against Divine RightDivine Right and believed the people are and believed the people are the source of government’s the source of government’s powerpower

met in underground clubs met in underground clubs called called SalonsSalons

Who Were the Philosophes So Mad at?Who Were the Philosophes So Mad at?

King Louis XIVKing Louis XIV of of France (r. 1643- France (r. 1643-

17151715

““The Sun King”The Sun King”

King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)Ruled France as an absolute monarch in control of Ruled France as an absolute monarch in control of every aspect of every French citizen’s life every aspect of every French citizen’s life

Believed his entire kingdom revolved solely around Believed his entire kingdom revolved solely around him: called himself him: called himself “The Sun King”“The Sun King”

King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)Lived a lavish life funded by heavy taxes on Lived a lavish life funded by heavy taxes on most of his subjectsmost of his subjects

Most of his subjects lived in poverty with barely Most of his subjects lived in poverty with barely enough to eatenough to eat

King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)

Believed in Believed in Divine Right: Divine Right: Believed God Believed God anointed him king so he was only anointed him king so he was only responsible to answer to God, not to his responsible to answer to God, not to his subjectssubjects

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

Became the French capitalBecame the French capital

12 miles outside of 12 miles outside of Paris Paris

Really angered the PhilosophesReally angered the Philosophes

Built 1671-1682 byBuilt 1671-1682 byKing Louis XIVKing Louis XIV

Shows how out of touch and Shows how out of touch and insincere King Louis XIV was insincere King Louis XIV was towards his subjectstowards his subjects

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

● ● 1588-16791588-1679

● ● British British PhilosopherPhilosopher

● ● Believed Believed humans were humans were naturally wickednaturally wicked

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Believed human Believed human beings were beings were naturally wickednaturally wicked

Believed human beings Believed human beings could not be trusted to could not be trusted to make decisions to benefit make decisions to benefit all, only to benefit all, only to benefit themselvesthemselves

Believed an absolute monarch Believed an absolute monarch was necessary to protect was necessary to protect human beings from each other human beings from each other (Humans not capable of self (Humans not capable of self rule)rule)

Hobbes: Hobbes: Leviathan Leviathan and Social Contractand Social ContractArgued that the only way to Argued that the only way to avoid war, chaos, disarray avoid war, chaos, disarray was a strong central rulerwas a strong central ruler

Argued that the people Argued that the people and the leader had a and the leader had a Social ContractSocial Contract

Hobbes’ Social ContractHobbes’ Social Contract: : people give up their rights to an people give up their rights to an absolute ruler in exchange for absolute ruler in exchange for protection, law, and order. People protection, law, and order. People do notdo not have the right to rebel have the right to rebel

Wrote Wrote LeviathanLeviathan 16511651

Jean Jacque RousseauJean Jacque Rousseau ● ● Swiss PhilosopherSwiss Philosopher

● ● 1712-17781712-1778

● ● Also had a Also had a “Social Contract”“Social Contract”

● ● Wrote Wrote The Social ContractThe Social Contract

Book in 1762Book in 1762

RousseauRousseauBelieved humans were naturally good and corrupted Believed humans were naturally good and corrupted by society, not the other way around (as by society, not the other way around (as HobbesHobbes believed)believed)

Believed society forces people to compete brining out Believed society forces people to compete brining out the worst in peoplethe worst in people

Believed government forces people to distrust each Believed government forces people to distrust each other and takes freedoms awayother and takes freedoms away

RousseauRousseauBelieved modern technology made people too Believed modern technology made people too dependent on one anotherdependent on one another

Believed dependency created inequality, social classes, Believed dependency created inequality, social classes, divisiondivision

Rousseau’s Social ContractRousseau’s Social ContractThe Social ContractThe Social Contract: : published 1762published 1762

Believed that the people Believed that the people are the source of are the source of government powersgovernment powers

Believed government’s Believed government’s job was to help people be job was to help people be happy and needs cared happy and needs cared forfor

Believed if government did Believed if government did not do its job people had not do its job people had the right to remove leaders, the right to remove leaders, rebelrebel

Hobbes’ & Rousseau's Social ContractsHobbes’ & Rousseau's Social Contracts

HobbesHobbesPeople are naturally People are naturally wickedwickedPeople need to surrender People need to surrender their independence to an their independence to an absolute leader in absolute leader in exchange for law and exchange for law and orderorderPeople do not have the People do not have the right to rebelright to rebel

RousseauRousseauPeople start out good and People start out good and become corrupted by become corrupted by societysocietyPeople are the source of People are the source of government’s powergovernment’s powerGovernment needs to Government needs to help peoplehelp peoplePeople can rebel if People can rebel if leaders fail to do their jobleaders fail to do their job

Baron MontesquieuBaron Montesquieu1689-17551689-1755

French PhilosopherFrench Philosopher

Believed government’s Believed government’s

power needs to be checked power needs to be checked

Baron MontesquieuBaron MontesquieuBelieved in 3 types of governmentsBelieved in 3 types of governments::

● ● MonarchiesMonarchies: ruled by a king/queen guided by honor: ruled by a king/queen guided by honor

● ● RepublicsRepublics: ruled by elected officials guided by virtue: ruled by elected officials guided by virtue

● ● DespotismsDespotisms: ruled by absolute dictators guided by : ruled by absolute dictators guided by fearfear

Baron MontesquieuBaron Montesquieu

Separation of PowersSeparation of PowersBelieved power in government Believed power in government had to be divided amongst had to be divided amongst different branchesdifferent branches

Believed checks and balances Believed checks and balances are necessary to keep one are necessary to keep one branch from becoming too branch from becoming too powerfulpowerful

Believed the people needed Believed the people needed safeguards from government safeguards from government becoming too powerfulbecoming too powerful

Heavily influenced America’s Heavily influenced America’s founding fathers 1770’s-1780’sfounding fathers 1770’s-1780’s

3 Branches of Gov’t included in US 3 Branches of Gov’t included in US ConstitutionConstitution

Separation of Powers (Checks and Separation of Powers (Checks and Balances)Balances)

John LockeJohn Locke1632-17041632-1704

British PhilosopherBritish Philosopher

Believed all people wereBelieved all people were

born with 3 natural rightsborn with 3 natural rights

((Life, Liberty, PropertyLife, Liberty, Property))

John LockeJohn LockeBelieved people are born with minds as a blank slate to Believed people are born with minds as a blank slate to be filled up: not naturally good or badbe filled up: not naturally good or bad

Believed it was human nature to want to figure things out and to Believed it was human nature to want to figure things out and to want to make sense of the world around youwant to make sense of the world around you

Disagreed with Disagreed with HobbesHobbes that people are naturally wicked that people are naturally wicked

Believed humans were reasonable creatures capable of figuring Believed humans were reasonable creatures capable of figuring out anythingout anything

Locke’s 3 Natural RightsLocke’s 3 Natural Rights

Locke believed all people born with 3 Natural Locke believed all people born with 3 Natural Rights: Rights: Life, Liberty, and PropertyLife, Liberty, and Property

Locke’s Natural Rights heavily influenced America’s foundersNatural Rights included in US Declaration of Independence (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness)

Voltaire Voltaire 1694-17781694-1778French PhilosopherFrench Philosopher

Staunch supporter Staunch supporter

of individual of individual

libertiesliberties

VoltaireVoltaireKnown for his wit and Known for his wit and nonconformitynonconformity

Believed that organized formal Believed that organized formal religion was too constrictingreligion was too constricting

Was opposed to organized Was opposed to organized religions criticizing other faiths religions criticizing other faiths and practitionersand practitioners

But did believe in freedom of But did believe in freedom of religionreligion

VoltaireVoltaireStaunch supporter of right to a fair trialStaunch supporter of right to a fair trial

Heavily influencedHeavily influenced

leaders of the Frenchleaders of the French

RevolutionRevolution

Was opposed to censorship: "I disapprove of what you say, but I Was opposed to censorship: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it." will defend, to the death, your right to say it."

Mary Mary WollstonecraftWollstonecraft 1759-17971759-1797British philosopher,British philosopher,

author, and feministauthor, and feminist

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft1792 wrote 1792 wrote A Vindication of the Rights of A Vindication of the Rights of WomanWoman

Argued women are not naturally Argued women are not naturally

inferior to men; they just suffer inferior to men; they just suffer

from lack of educational from lack of educational

opportunitiesopportunities

Mary WollstonecraftMary WollstonecraftArgued that men and women should be treated as Argued that men and women should be treated as equal beingsequal beings

Argued that social order should be determined by Argued that social order should be determined by reason (usefulness) not by gender, race, wealth, etc. reason (usefulness) not by gender, race, wealth, etc.

Mary WollstonecraftMary WollstonecraftArgued that society Argued that society trains women to be trains women to be weak and more weak and more concerned with their concerned with their superficial looks than superficial looks than contributions to societycontributions to society

Argued that women Argued that women should receive the same should receive the same type and quality of type and quality of education as meneducation as men

Argued it was a problem that Argued it was a problem that men were so comfortable with men were so comfortable with treating women as inferiorstreating women as inferiors

Mary WollstonecraftMary WollstonecraftArgued that proper Argued that proper education for women will education for women will solve their problemssolve their problems

Argued women must be Argued women must be given the opportunity to given the opportunity to participate in the public participate in the public sphere as much as the sphere as much as the private sphere private sphere

Most Enlightenment Most Enlightenment Philosophes did not agree with Philosophes did not agree with her about the roles of women her about the roles of women and education for womenand education for women

She was a feminist long before She was a feminist long before it was acceptableit was acceptable

She inspired numerous later She inspired numerous later generations of feminists in generations of feminists in numerous countries numerous countries

Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)

1533-16031533-1603

Was Queen of Was Queen of

EnglandEngland

Most powerful Queen in Most powerful Queen in

European HistoryEuropean History

Believed in Believed in Divine RightDivine Right

Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)Believed in Believed in Divine RightDivine Right but believed her but believed her subjects were like her children and she had subjects were like her children and she had to take care of themto take care of them

Never got married or had children: challenged the Never got married or had children: challenged the popular belief that women had to marrypopular belief that women had to marry

Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)

Even though she believed in Even though she believed in Divine RightDivine Right she still saw the she still saw the need to rule with reasonneed to rule with reason

She settled decades-long religious She settled decades-long religious tension in England (tension in England (Catholics vs. Catholics vs. ProtestantsProtestants))

The The PhilosophesPhilosophes saw her as an saw her as an inspiration to other monarchs: be inspiration to other monarchs: be an Enlightened ruleran Enlightened ruler