The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment - 18th century

• Major ideas

• Reason is only infallible guide to knowledge - sense experience

• The universe works like a clock

• Optimistic about the future - man can improve with reason

• Attacked Calvinist belief, man basically good

The Philosophes• French word• means philosophers• were more though, were interested in

improving society around them• expanded on Locke’s idea of “natural

rights”• had great confidence in the use of

science and reason

• Gathered in Paris- urban group– salons

• helped make Enlightenment ideas popular

• often came from middle class families

• well-educated

• concerned about social issues

• valued clear thinking, wit, and humor

• Concerned about many social issues

• urged religious toleration

• called for freedom of speech and press

• criticized censorship

• encouraged education

• denounced slavery

• spoke out against torture and cruel and unusual punishment

• campaigned for better treatment of the mentally ill

Enlightenment Thinkers

• Reexamined society using scientific method.

• Thought they could use reason to discover natural laws that governed behavior.

Thomas Hobbes• Lived during England’s Civil War• 1651 – The Leviathon• Described man in a state of nature

– “nasty, brutish, and short”

• To escape this, people enter a contract

• People give up freedom to gain peace and order

• No right to rebel• Best government – one where ruler

has complete control – Absolute monarchy

• Man basically evil, bad

John Locke• English philosopher• 1690 – Two Treatises on Government• Believed gov’t was a contract• Needed to establish order• BUT, optimistic view of man• People had natural rights – life, liberty,

and property

• King must be responsible to the people

• People have the right to rebel• Called for a limited monarchy

• “tabula rasa”

Jean Jacques Rousseau• Swiss philosopher• Poor, unhappy, complainer, a rebel• Believed human nature basically

good, society corrupts• All people are equal. Get rid of

titles, etc.• Admired the “noble savage”

• Wrote The Social Contract• Described the ideal society• Rule by the “General Will” –

decisions of the majority• Emotion important, reason doesn’t

solve everything

• “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”

Voltaire

• French, middle class

• Argued for religious toleration and freedom of thought

• Favored an “Enlightened monarch”

• “I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

• Wanted to destroy conventional thought

• Used satire – Candide

• Attacked organized religion, intolerance, ignorance

Baron de Montesquieu• Born to a wealthy French family

• Wrote The Spirit of the Laws

• Said there were 3 forms of govt

• Most impressed with England’s

• Called for a separation of powers• Executive, Legislative, Judicial• Called for a system of checks and

balances• These ideas put into our

Constitution

Enlightened Rulers• Frederick the Great

• Peter the Great

• Catherine the Great

• Maria Theresa

• Joseph II