1818THTH Century Century

movementmovementEuropeEuropeThinkers apply reason and Thinkers apply reason and scientific methods to all scientific methods to all aspects of societyaspects of society

The PhilosophesThe PhilosophesHeight of Enlightenment in Height of Enlightenment in

FranceFranceMet in Paris to discuss ideasMet in Paris to discuss ideasBelieved people could apply Believed people could apply

reason to all aspects of lifereason to all aspects of life

Philosophes cont.Philosophes cont.Five concepts of core beliefs:Five concepts of core beliefs:

ReasonReasonNatureNatureHappinessHappinessProgressProgressLibertyLiberty

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes Absolute monarchy was bestAbsolute monarchy was best Human beings are naturally:Human beings are naturally:

ViolentViolent DisorderlyDisorderly

Without absolute monarch = chaosWithout absolute monarch = chaos 1651 1651 LeviathanLeviathan

Form social contractForm social contract Give up freedoms to be protected and live Give up freedoms to be protected and live

peacefullypeacefully

No right to rebelNo right to rebel

John LockeJohn Locke

John LockeJohn Locke Government based on social contractGovernment based on social contract Human beings are naturally:Human beings are naturally:

ReasonableReasonable MoralMoral

All people have All people have natural rightsnatural rights LifeLife LibertyLiberty PropertyProperty

Locke cont.Locke cont.

Government created to Government created to protect natural rightsprotect natural rights

People had right to People had right to overthrowoverthrow

VoltaireVoltaire

VoltaireVoltaire French writerFrench writer Fought for:Fought for:

ToleranceTolerance ReasonReason Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Freedom of speechFreedom of speech

Made many enemiesMade many enemies Sent to jail & later exiled to England for two Sent to jail & later exiled to England for two

yearsyears

MontesquieuMontesquieu

MontesquieuMontesquieu

French writer – political libertyFrench writer – political liberty Proposed separation of Proposed separation of

powers amongst branches of powers amongst branches of governmentgovernmentKeep individuals or groups Keep individuals or groups

from becoming too powerfulfrom becoming too powerful

RousseauRousseau

RousseauRousseau Passionate about individual Passionate about individual

freedomsfreedoms Believed society corrupted Believed society corrupted

people’s natural goodnesspeople’s natural goodness Believed only good government Believed only good government

was freely formed from the “will of was freely formed from the “will of the people”the people”

Rousseau cont.Rousseau cont.

Social contract Social contract Free individuals to create Free individuals to create society and governmentsociety and government

All people equal All people equal titles titles of nobility abolishedof nobility abolished

BeccariaBeccaria

BeccariaBeccaria Italian philosopheItalian philosophe Laws existed to preserve social Laws existed to preserve social

orderorder Argued for rights of the accusedArgued for rights of the accused Believed capital punishment Believed capital punishment

should be abolishedshould be abolished

Adam SmithAdam Smith

Adam SmithAdam Smith Father of EconomicsFather of Economics

If individuals free to pursue If individuals free to pursue own economic self interests own economic self interests society benefits society benefits

Adam SmithAdam Smith Laissez – Faire EconomicsLaissez – Faire Economics

Government should leave the Government should leave the economy ALONEeconomy ALONE

3 roles of government3 roles of government1.1. Protect state from invasionProtect state from invasion

2.2. Defend citizens from injusticesDefend citizens from injustices

3.3. Keep up public works (i.e. roads, Keep up public works (i.e. roads, canals)canals)

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft Philosophes held traditional view Philosophes held traditional view

toward womentoward women Mary argued that women need Mary argued that women need

educationeducation Urged women to enter fields Urged women to enter fields

dominated by men dominated by men MedicineMedicine PoliticsPolitics

LegacyLegacy

Inspired French and American Inspired French and American RevolutionsRevolutions

Three long-term effectsThree long-term effects1.1. Belief in progressBelief in progress

2.2. Rise of more secular outlookRise of more secular outlook

3.3. Rise of individualismRise of individualism