The Enlightenment Thinkers

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The Enlightenment Thinkers
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The Enlightenment

• Scholars began to challenge long held beliefs
  about science, religion, and government
• Thinkers were inspired by Galileo and Newton.
• The method of observation and logic is used to
  approach problems of human life.
• Ideas will be based on rational thought and
  understanding.

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The Enlightenment

• In France, thinkers called philosophes (or
  philosophers) would gather in informal meetings
  called salons.

There, they would exchange and debate ideas.
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The Basic Questions

• Enlightenment thinkers wanted to learn more about
  human life using these questions
• What natural law governs the way people should
  live?
• How well do our institutions agree with natural
  law?
• Does natural law give all people certain rights?
• What is the best form of government?

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Philosophers

• Philosophers did not always agree about the
  answers to these questions.
• Some supported absolute rule by the king.
• Others argued that the people should have a say
  in their own government.

• They all shared a trust in reason and observation
  as the best way of understanding and progress.

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The Five Thinkers
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Baron de Montesquieu
Voltaire
Cesare Beccaria
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Thomas Hobbes

• His Question What is the basis of social order?
• His Observation Human beings were naturally
  cruel, selfish, and greedy.
• In 1651, he published a book called Leviathan. He
  wrote that people are driven by a restless desire
  for power. Without laws or other social controls,
  people would always be in conflict.

Absolute Rule by Kings
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Thomas Hobbes

• Governments were created to protect people from
  their own selfishness.
• People are selfish by nature and can not be
  trusted to make decisions that were good for
  society as a whole.

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John Locke

• His Observation He denied the divine right of
  kings to rule.
• In 1690, he published Two Treatises of
  Government. His book justified a strong
  parliament which protects human rights.
• He argued that the purpose of government was to
  protect peoples natural rights.
• These rights include the right to life, liberty,
  and property.

Natural Rights
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John Locke

• In exchange for our rights, people give the
  government the power to make and enforce laws.
• The true basis of government was a social
  contract (or agreement), among free people.
• His theory is that a governments authority is
  based on the consent of the people. If the
  government fails to respect peoples rights, it
  can be overthrown.

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Baron de Montesquieu

• His Observation Too much power in the hands of
  any one person or group will lead to tyranny.
• French author, in 1748, he published The Spirit
  of Laws.
• He argued that the best way to protect human
  rights is to divide power among three branches of
  government.
• Each branch of government checks (limits) the
  power of the others.

Separation of Powers
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Baron de Montesquieu

• The Three Branches of Government
• Legislative branch makes the laws
• Executive branch enforces the laws
• Judicial branch interprets the laws

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Voltaire

• His Observation Freedom of thought and
  expression is the only way to fight oppression.
• He was a French writer and participant in Paris
  salons.
• He supported religious tolerance allowing
  people to believe in religion in their own way.
• Strong supporter of free speech.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend
to the death your right to say it
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Cesare Beccaria

• His Observation He studied criminology, the
  scientific study of crime and punishment.
• He objected the harsh practices that were common
  in his day and called for changes in criminal law
  to protect the rights of the accused.
• Torture was common and people found guilty of
  crimes were often sentenced to death.

Punishment should fit the seriousness of the
crime
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Cesare Beccaria

• On Crimes and Punishments
• He argued that laws exist to preserve society
  and order and that punishment did not have to be
  brutal.
• A person accused of a crime should receive a fair
  and speedy trial.
• Torture should never be used.
• Capital punishment (putting someone to death)
  should never be used.
• Punishment should fit the seriousness
• of the crime.

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Women of the Enlightenment

• Enlightenment thinking influenced many throughout
  Europe and inspired revolutions in America and
  France.
• Although women of the 1700s did not have the
  same rights or status as men, there were a small
  few who played an important role by helping to
  spread ideas about rights and equality to women.

Mary Wollstonecraft
Abigail Adams
Madame Geoffrin