The EnlightenmentSummary

Objectives• How did scientific progress promote trust

in human reason?• How did the social contract and

separation of powers affect views on government?

• How did new ideas affect society and the economy?

• Identify the philosophies of major Enlightenment thinkers such as: John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Adam Smith.

• What events during from the 1500-1700 opened people’s minds to a new way of thinking? –Renaissance –Reformation–Exploration –Scientific Revolution

Scientific Revolution Leads to Enlightenment

• 1500-1700: European scientists using reason to discover laws of nature–Very successful: Planetary

movements, chemistry, vaccine for smallpox, etc.

• Early 1700’s: If people used reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws?–Laws that govern human nature–Reformers begin studying human

nature and societal problems

Major Enlightenment Ideas

• Reason- truth can be discovered through reason and logic

• Nature – what is natural is good and reasonable

• Happiness – seek happiness on earth

• Progress- mankind could improve • Liberty – called for personal

liberties such as those granted under the English Bill of Rights

Major Enlightenment Ideas

• Every social, political and economic problem could be solved through the use of reason

• Governments are created to secure an orderly society

• Separation of powers is the best way to protect human liberties

• All men are created “free and equal”• A free market should be allowed to

regulate trade

The French Salon and the Philosophes

Madame de Pompadour

• Madame de Pompadour• Salons: gatherings for

aristocrats to discuss new theories and ideas

• Philosophes: French Enlightenment thinkers who attended the salons

Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke

Baron de Montesquieu

Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)• Applied rational analysis to

the study of government• Attacked the concept of

divine right, yet supported a strong monarchy

• Believed that humans were basically driven by passions and needed to be kept in check by a powerful ruler

John Locke (1632–1704)

• The “State of Nature”

• Tabula rasa

Locke(continued)

• Treatises of Government

• Rights

Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes 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

Writing Prompt• Write one paragraph that defends either Hobbes or Locke’s Social Contract theory. Cite specific ideas of the theory and include historical examples to support your own ideas.

• What do life liberty and pursuit of happiness mean to you?

Voltaire (1694–1778)

• Most famous philosopher

• Wrote plays, essays, poetry, philosophy, and books

• Championed social, political, and religious tolerance

• “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

The Encyclopédie

• Major achievement of the philosophes

• Begun in 1745; completed in 1765

Frontspiece to the Encyclopédie

The Encyclopédie (continued)

• Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d’Alembert

• Banned by the Catholic Church

Encyclopédie editor Denis Diderot

Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712–1778)

• Philosophized on the nature of society and government

• The Social Contract– Agreement amongst

free individuals to create a society and government

– Consent of the governed

Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)

• French noble and political philosopher

• The Spirit of the Laws

Montesquieu (continued)

• Separation of powers

• Constitutional monarchy

Frontspiece to The Spirit of the Laws

Separation of Powers

• Baron de Montesquieu: Criticized absolute monarchy and admired British government–British protected themselves from

tyranny by dividing powers of government between three branches: legislative, executive and judicial (misconception)

–Each branch of government should be able to ‘check’ the other two

• What government does this sound like?

Women and the Enlightenment

• Changing views

• Role of education

• Equality

Mary Wollstonecraft Olympe de Gouges

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Declaration of the Rights of Man

• A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Wollstonecraft (continued)

• Education• Women’s rights movement

Title page of Wollstonecraft’s Thoughts on the Education of Daughters

Olympe De Gouges• Criticized the

French Revolution• The Rights of

Women• “Declaration of

the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen”

• Executed in 1793

“Enlightened Monarchs”• Most of Europe ruled

by absolute monarchs• Receptive to

Enlightenment ideas• Instituted new laws

and practices

Enlightened Monarchs

• Frederick II, Prussia

• Catherine the Great, Russia

• Maria Theresa, Austria

• Joseph II, Holy Roman Empire

• Gustav III, Sweden

• Napoleon I, France

Prussia: Frederick the Great 1740–1786

• Wanted to make Prussia a modern state

• Reforms: He granted• religious freedom, • improved education,• systematized the

government to make it more efficient, simplified many laws,

• outlawed torture.

Painting “Frederick the Great and Voltaire.”

He only went so far in implementing Enlightenment ideas. For example,

his support of the nobility and the fact that he made no attempt to abolish serfdom demonstrate the limitations

of his devotion to Enlightenment ideals.

Russia: Catherine the Great (1762–1796)• Domestic reforms

– Inspired by the ideas of Enlightenment political thinkers like Montesquieu, she composed a plan to completely overhaul the legal code.

– Other measures she instituted promoted• education, • relaxed the censorship law,

and • restricted the use of torture.

• Peasant revolt

Joseph II (ruled 1765–1790)

• Ruled as coregent with his mother until 1780

• Joseph’s reforms•Religious toleration•Reduced the power

of the Catholic Church

•Abolition of serfdom

The Legacy of the Enlightenment

• Government• Society• Education

The signing of the U.S. Constitution

Major Enlightenment Ideas for Society

• Detested the slave trade and slavery• Deplored religious prejudice• Defended freedom of speech• Attacked divine right theory• Urged education for all• Hated unequal distribution of

property• Believed governments should be

freely elected• Women’s first duty was to her family

Enlightenment Changes Society

• Women: Women were not equal and were criticized for attempting to gain equality

• Salons: Men and women gather in living rooms to discuss Enlightenment ideas (chat rooms)

Enlightenment Changes Society

• Music: Ballets and operas become popular (Bach, Handel, Mozart)

• Art: Baroque gives way to rococo art (simple, elegant and charming)

• Literature: Novels become popular (Robinson Crusoe)

Enlightenment Changes Society

• Majority/Lower Class/Peasants: Slow to change and hurt the worst– Serfdom disappears in the west, rises in the east– Peasants in Western Europe allowed to own or rent

land– All peasants throughout Europe dealt with similar

issues• Forced into military• Lands could be torn up without compensation by nobility

• Some peasants become eager for change, some resist change completely

REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?

a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire

Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of

mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of laissez

faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and laissez

faire.d) They focused on social reform.

REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?

a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire

Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of

mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of laissez

faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and laissez

faire.d) They focused on social reform.

Enlightenment ThinkersIn republican governments, men are

all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the

latter, because they are nothing.

~Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws Bk. VI, Ch.2

The market price of every particular commodity is

regulated by the proportion between the quantity which is actually brought to

market, and the demand of those who are willing to pay the natural price of the commodity or the whole value of the

rent, labor and profit which must be paid in

order to bring it thither.

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The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property, and putting themselves

under government, is the preservation of their property.

~John Locke Second Treatise of Government ChXIX, “Of the Dissolution in Government”