Great Enlightenment Thinkers

1
Great Enlightenment Thinkers

• Please complete the following terms on your
  Syllabus
• Descartes
• Rationalism
• Voltaire
• Mary Wollstonecraft

2
Great Enlightenment Thinkers

• Thought-Provoking Question
• John Locke, a famous Enlightenment thinker, had
  ideas about government and human nature, as well
  as EDUCATION. He believed that the learning of
  virtue is more important than acquiring
  knowledge. Locke believed that experience made
  the greatest teacher.
• DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LEARNING THE RIGHT THING TO
  DO IS MORE IMPORTANT IN EDUCATION THAN KNOWLEDGE?
  WHY OR WHY NOT?

3
The Triumph of Reason

• As scientist began to make new discoveries,
  European thinkers began to apply science to
  society.
• Using reason could help people understand how to
  solve human problems and make life better.
• Example-Descartes
• Believed that mathematics was the source of all
  scientific truths because in mathematics the
  answers were always true.
• Founded Rationalism-a belief that reason is the
  chief source of knowledge.

I think, therefore I am.
4
The Age of Enlightenment

• During the Enlightenment, Europeans began to
  believe that reason was a better guide than faith
  or tradition.
• 1700s
• Political Thinkers applied reason and scientific
  ideas to government.
• Natural Law-Laws that were applied to everyone
  and could be understood by reason.

5
Locke v. Hobbes

• John Locke
• English-studied philosophy and science
• Greatly influence by the ideas of Descartes
• Affected by the Glorious Revolution
• Argued that Natural Law affirms citizens rights
  to make government answer to the people.
• Wrote the Two Treatises of Government
• Argued that government should be based on natural
  rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of
  property.
• Government should be based on social contract-an
  agreement between rulers and people, if a ruler
  took away peoples natural rights, the people had
  a right to revolt and set up a new government.

6
Locke v. Hobbes

• Thomas Hobbes
• English-wrote about government and society.
• Strongly affected by the execution of King
  Charles I.
• Wrote the Leviathan
• Argued that Natural law made absolute monarchy
  the best form of government because people were
  nasty, brutish, and short, they need to obey
  government and have a leader who would give
  people direction.

7
Voltaire

• During the 1700s, France became a major center of
  the Enlightenment.
• Voltaire is known as the greatest thinker of the
  Enlightenment.
• He was known for his strong dislike of the
  Catholic Church.
• He blamed the church for keeping knowledge from
  the people to maintain their power.
• Believed in DEISM-Religion based on reason.

8
Baron Montesquieu

• Believed that Englands government was the best
  because it had separation of powers.
• Powers are equally divided among the branches of
  government.

9
Enlightenment and Women

• The Enlightenment raised questions about the role
  of women in society.
• In the 1700s, women thinkers began to call for
  womens rights.
• English writer, Mary Wollstonecraft is considered
  the founder of the modern movement for womens
  rights.
• She claimed that all humans have reason, because
  women have reason, they should have the same
  rights as men.
• Women should have equal rights in education,
  workplace, and politics.

10
Protest of Enlightenment Ideas

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau-claimed that the supporters
  of the Enlightenment relied too much on reason,
  instead people should pay more attention to their
  feelings.
• In Europe, absolute monarchs ruled. They
  believed that they answered to God, not their
  people.
• The Sun King-Louis XIV-Europe strongest absolute
  monarch. Ruled for 72 years, and said, I am the
  State.

11
Thomas Jefferson

• Author of the Declaration of Independence
• Borrowed the ideas of John Locke and social
  contract, and his idea that people have the right
  to overthrow governments that violate their
  rights.
• Stated in the Declaration that all men are
  created equal and that people have certain
  God-given rights-Life, Liberty, and the pursuit
  of happiness.

12
Enlightenment Quotes

• Voltaire-
• I ______ of what you say, but I will ____________
  your right to say it.
• Locke-
• Wherever law ends ________ begins.
• Jefferson-
• The _____ of human life and happiness, and not
  their _________ is the first and only legitimate
  object of good government.