Enlightenment

1
Enlightenment

• A new intellectual movement that stressed reason
  and thought and the power of the individual to
  solve problems.
• Age of Reason
• Height at the mid-1700s

2
Two Views on Government

• Hobbes Social Contract
• Horrors of English Civil war convinced him that
  humans are naturally selfish and wicked.
• war, of every man against every man, life
  would be solitary, poor, nasty, brustish and
  short.

3
Two Views on Government

• To escape such a bleak life, people had to hand
  over their rights to a strong ruler.
• In exchange for their rights, people get law and
  order.
• Agreement between people and government is the
  social contract.
• Best government is one that was absolute
  monarchy-keep citizens under control.

4
Two Views on Government

• John Locke-people could learn from experience and
  improve themselves.
• People had natural abiltiy to govern their own
  affairs and look after the welfare of society.
• All people born free and equal-3 natural
  rights-life, liberty and property.
• Purpose of government is to protect the rights.

5
Philosophes Advocate Reason

• France/Paris became meeting place for people to
  discuss new ideas and politics.
• People can apply reason to all aspects of life
• 1) Reason-truth can be discovered through reason
  or logical thinking
• Nature-natural is good and reasonable
• Happiness-seek well being on earth
• Progress-society and mankind should improve.
• 5) Liberty-All people should have liberty-freedoms

6
People of Enlightenment

• Voltaire-70 books and essays
• Enemies of court and in jail 2 times, exiled
• Fought for reason, tolerance, freedom of religion
  and speech-
• I do not agree with a word you say, but will
  defend to the death your right to say it.

7
People of Enlightenment

• Montesquieu-French writer, studied political
  liberty.
• Britain was best governed and most politically
  balanced government in world.
• Proposed separation of powers would keep any
  individual or group from gaining total control of
  government-power should be check on power.
• Ideas used in US constitution.

8
People of Enlightenment

• Rousseau Champion of freedom-French and
  passionately committed to individual freedom
• Man born free but everywhere he is in chains.
• Civilizations corrupted peoples natural
  goodness.
• Social contract was between free individuals to
  create a society and a government.
• Legitimate government came from consent of the
  governed.

9
People of Enlightenment

• Beccaria promotes criminal justice-Italian and
  believed laws existed to preserve social order,
  not to avenge crimes.
• Criticized torture, irregular trials, cruel and
  unusual punishment
• Advocated for speedy trials, no torture, abolish
  capital punishment.

10
Women in Enlightenment

• Mary Astell-If all men are born free, how is it
  that all women are born slaves?
• Mary Wollstonecraft-womens education should be
  same level as men-women need to be educated to
  become virtuous and useful-women should become
  involved in politics and jobs that men do.

11
Legacy of Enlightenment

• Belief in progress-new inventions, easier life,
  solve social problems-ended slavery
• More secular outlook-non-religious
  outlook-question religious beliefs and teachings
• Importance of individual-people to look to
  themselves-they can solve their own problems.