The Enlightenment Thinkers

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The Enlightenment Thinkers

• Fill in your chart with these facts as we go
  through the notes.

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Basics Vocab

• Natural Rights
• Rights that all humans are given at birth
• Separation of Powers
• The idea that governments should have more than
  one person in charge to make sure things are
  equal.
• Philosopher-King
• Platos idea of the perfect ruler who would be
  trained and educated in Philosophy before
  becoming a king.

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Quick Review

• What is the difference between an absolute
  monarch and a limited monarch?
• What is the difference between a direct democracy
  and an indirect democracy (also called a
  representative democracy)?

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Aristotle
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Add to your Basics Vocab

• Aristotle Greek philosopher who argued that
  democracy was the least dangerous form of
  government (if everyone was educated and power
  was held by the middle class)
• His second preferred type of government was a
  king guided by a group of philosophers.

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Aristotle
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons/Beliefs Can People Govern?
King with Philosophers Democracy ruled by Middle Class Unrealistic for all citizens to be educated Therefore a King should rule w/guidance of philosophers NO Unless they are educated
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Queen Elizabeth I
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Basics Vocab

• Queen Elizabeth I 16th century monarch who
  believed monarchs should be thought of as a
  parent of their people, and have nearly absolute
  control.

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Queen Elizabeth I
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons/Beliefs Can People Govern?
Wants Absolute Monarchy but has Limited Monarchy Divine Rightbelieved God gave her authority to rule Believed each person is born into their proper place in society She thought she was the mother of the people No
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Thomas Hobbes
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Add to your Basics Vocab

• Thomas Hobbes 17th century enlightenment
  thinker who believed that absolute monarchs
  helped to control chaos in a society

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Thomas Hobbes
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons/Beliefs Can People Govern?
Absolute Monarchy All humans are naturally wicked Government protects people from their own selfishness King/Queenbest form of government No
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John Locke
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Add to Basics Vocab

• John Locke 17th century enlightenment thinker
  who believed that when people are born good and
  all deserve natural rights.
• When people are denied their natural rights,
  life, liberty, and property, people have the
  right to overthrow the government.

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John Locke
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons/Beliefs Can People Govern?
Limited Monarchy King Queen need limitations People can make good decisions if they have proper info People should approve of their leaders Government should protect individual freedoms liberties Natural RightsLife, Liberty Property Yes
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King Louis XIV
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Basics Vocab

• King Louis XIV 18th century king of France who
  believed that he received his authority by Divine
  Right and was only answerable to God.

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King Louis XIV
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Absolute Monarchya ruler with unlimited powers Divine Rightreceived authority from God only has to answer to God. -Took this belief to the extreme No
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Baron de Montesquieu
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Basics Vocab

• Baron de Montesquieu 18th century enlightenment
  philosopher who believed that government power
  should be separated (to create equality) and
  overall controlled by a limited monarch.

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Baron de Montesquieu
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Limited Monarchy Limited powers makes country stable Separation of Powers Checks Balances Yesbut only if they are educated
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Plato
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Basics Vocab

• Plato Greek philosopher who argued that
  government leaders should be chosen by their
  strengths and talents, not their family line or
  money.

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Plato
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Philosopher-King Talent determines each persons role in society Everyone should be educated Democracy not good mob rule NoOnly the educated can rule.
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Jean Jacques Rousseau
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Basics Vocab

• Jean Jacques Rousseau 18th century
  enlightenment philosopher who believed that
  direct democracy was possible because all people
  are naturally good, and will do what is best for
  their country.

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Jean Jacques Rousseau
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Direct Democracy Everyone should vote on EVERYTHING! Absolute power corrupts everybody. YES!!
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Mary Wollstonecraft
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Basics Vocab

• Mary Wollstonecraft 19th century feminist who
  argued that women should be equal to men in
  education, business, and government.
• She wanted women to be equal NOT above the men.

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Mary Wollstonecraft
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Democracy or any system of Equality Women should have equal rights in education, business government YES
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James Madison
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James Madison
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Indirect Democracy (aka Republic or Rep. Democracy) Believed all people were created equal and should have an equal voice in their government. Thought a system of checks and balances would guarantee good decisions. YES
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Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson
Ideal Form of Government Main Reasons Can People Govern?
Indirect Democracy (aka Republic or Rep. Democracy) Believed all people were created equal and should have an equal voice in their government. Believed a society of farmers was independent minded. YES
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Answer these in your notes

• Of the philosophers whose ideas did you like the
  best? Why?
• Whose ideas did you like the least? Why?
• Which of the thinkers ideas have been the most
  influential in the modern development of
  democracy?

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Draw this chart on the bottom of your notes or on
a new sheet of paperTitle Press Conference
Matrix
Where do you think the ELEVEN Philosophers line
up on the chart of Democracy?
Autocracy
Democracy
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Press Conference Matrix
Where do you think the ELEVEN Philosophers line
up on the chart of Democracy?
Autocracy
Democracy
Madison
Wollstonecraft
John Locke
King Louis XIV
Queen Elizabeth I
Plato
Aristotle
Montesquieu
Rousseau
Thomas Hobbes
Jefferson