Chapter 17

Philosophe Philosophe

Natural LawNatural Law

Natural RightNatural Right

EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Natural right

Rule of LawRule of Law

Philosophe Philosophe *Member of a group of Enlightenment thinkers who tried to Member of a group of Enlightenment thinkers who tried to apply the methods of science to the improvement of societyapply the methods of science to the improvement of societyNatural LawNatural Law*Rule or law that governs human natureRule or law that governs human natureNatural RightNatural Right*Right that belongs to all humans from birthRight that belongs to all humans from birthEnlightenmentEnlightenment*Revolution in thinking. Through the use of reason, people Revolution in thinking. Through the use of reason, people and governments could solve every social, political and and governments could solve every social, political and economic problem.economic problem.Natural right *Right that belongs to all humans from birthRight that belongs to all humans from birthRule of LawRule of Law*government by Law. government by Law. The rule of law implies that government authority The rule of law implies that government authority may only be exercised in accordance with written may only be exercised in accordance with written laws, which were adopted through an established laws, which were adopted through an established procedure.procedure.

• Belief in Progress–The successes of the Scientific Revolution gave

philosophes the confidence that human reason could solve social problems.

• More secular Perspective–Scientists made discoveries that contradicted &

challenged religious teachings.

• Importance of the Individual–People turned away from the Church & royalty for

guidance - looked to themselves.

–Encouraged to use their own abilities & reason to problem solve

1. Reason – truth could be discovered through reason

2. Happiness – rejected medieval belief that people should concentrate on finding happiness in the hereafter rather than finding contentment & joy in this world

3. Progress – Humankind could improve

4. Liberty – called for liberties achieve from the Glorious Revolution in the English Bill of Rights

*Influenced by the English Civil War

*Human nature was wicked & life was like state of war

*Social Contract req’d people to give up liberties to an absolute monarch.* In return they gain order &

security.

* Powerful gov't. = absolute monarchy

*Wrote the Leviathan – he argued people were naturally cruel, greedy and selfish. If unchecked they would fight, rob, and oppress.

*Locke believed that human nature was essentially good.

*Humans were born with natural rights of life, liberty, property

*Purpose of gov't. was to protect those rights

*If gov't. abused it’s authority, as Britain had done, people had a right to overthrow the gov't.

• Principles include:–Natural rights

–Purpose of gov't.– Limited power/accepted by all

(rejected absolute monarchy)

–Justification to overthrow gov't.

–Author of the Two Treatise on government

*poet, historian, essayist, and philosopher who wrote with cutting sarcasm and sharp wit.

*Prolific writer who used satire against his enemies.

• Attacked clergy, aristocrats & gov't.

• Fought for religious freedom & speech.

*Was jailed & exiled for his beliefs.

* sent to the Bastille prison twice due to his criticism of French authorities

• Fought superstition, intolerance and prejudice.

• He corresponded directly with many rulers

• Believed the best organization of gov't. included:• Separation of powers (SOP)

&

• Checks and balances (C/B)

• SOP was by itself a C/B

• Both ideas are part of the US Constitution.

• Wrote Spirit of the Laws

• Civilization corrupted man

• Wrote The Social Contract• Only good gov't. had to be freely

formed (elected) & guided by the “general will” of society.

• Favored “direct democracy” in which individuals agree to give up some freedoms in favor of the common good.

• Consent of government

• Titles of nobility should be abolished

• Influenced French Revolution/

• Consent of the governed in US Constitution

*Interested in the justice system

*Condemned torture & irregular proceedings.

*Favored:

*Speedy trial

*Fair treatment

*Punishment proportionate with the crime

*Abolishing capital punishment

*Women were not treated fairly by most philosophes.

*Wollstonecraft believed that women were entitled to an equal education.

*Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women

*Commercial Revolution (1500-1700) * Rise in capitalism (laissez-faire): *Mercantilism: economic self-sufficiency; business operate with little or no

gov't.

*Overseas colonization: * esp. Atlantic economy

* Scientific revolution: * new inventions and experimentation in better agricultural practices

*Rise in population: * between 1750 & 1850 pop. nearly doubled to 266 million .

*Adam Smith (1727-90): Wealth of Nations (1776)* a. Considered the “Bible” of capitalism.* b. Refined and expanded laissez-faire philosophy * c. Believed the economy is governed by the natural laws of supply

and demand.* d. In a free market economy, competition will encourage producers to

manufacture most efficiently in order to sell higher quality, lower cost goods than competitors.

* e. gov't regulation only interferes with this natural self-governing style.

• government regulated economic policy based on the following beliefs:• Wealth was measured by

the amount of gold/silver in treasury which req’d that nations maintain favorable balance of trade.

• Colonies were desired because they (1) provided raw materials and (2) markets for finished products.

• Restrictive trade policies which was reflected in the Navigation Laws

*Leading physiocrat who opposed mercantilism.

*Wrote Wealth of Nations which argued that natural forces of supply & demand should operate the economy.

*Strong supporter of laissez-faire.

*Encouraged individual initiative

*government regulated

*Restricted trade

*Tariffs

*Navigation Acts

*Regulated by the market

*Liberal free trade

*Published the Encyclopedia.

*Censorship used to prevent the spread of ideas.

*Enlightened despots, absolute rulers, were those willing to consider some reforms

Restricting access

*Gov’ts and Churches – wanted to defend the old order.

*Banned and burned books

*Imprisoned writers

Undaunted writers

*Disguised ideas in works of fiction

*Montesquieu –Persian Letters mocked French society

*Voltaire – Candide exposed the corruption and hypocrisy of Eurp society

• Originated in 1600s

• Noblewomen began inviting enlightenment philosophes in all fields to their homes

• By the 1700s middle class women began holding salons.

• Another way in which ideas were disseminated

• Experimented with Enlightenment ideas

• Communicated with Voltaire & Diderot.

• Gave some rights to nobles

• However she allied herself with nobles who opposed change.

• Suppressed serf revolt

*King of Prussia

*Religious tolerance

*Hired Voltaire to set up Prussian Academy

*Instituted reforms to help commoners

*However reforms were largely to make Prussian gov't more efficient

• Dedicated reformer• Disguised himself so he

could learn about their problems and improve them.

• Hired qualified civil servants rather than nobles

• Religious toleration• Ended censorship• Sold some church

property to build hospitals

Constitutional governmentConstitutional government•government whose power is defined and limited by government whose power is defined and limited by law.law.British Constitution = Magna Carta, English Bill of British Constitution = Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, all Acts of Parliament and unwritten traditions Rights, all Acts of Parliament and unwritten traditions that protect citizens’ rights. British government not that protect citizens’ rights. British government not totally democratic.totally democratic.OligarchyOligarchy•government in which the ruling power belongs to a few government in which the ruling power belongs to a few people.people.

• SEVEN YEARS WAR(French and Indian War)• Conflict between the British and the French in

their North American colonies• Fought over Ohio River Valley and Gulf of St.

Lawrence.• Native Americans fought on the French side.• American colonists fought on the British side.• British win. War EXPENSIVE!

• All French territory in Canada transferred to the British.

The American Revolution

The War Begins Foreign Support and British Defeat.

*British taxed colonies to pay for French and Indian War. *Stamp Act (1765) – required that certain printed materials such as legal documents, newspapers and playing cards, carry a stamp saying that a tax had been paid to Britain.*Tea Act – Tea could be purchased only from British merchants and was also taxed.*Boston Tea Party*Intolerable Acts – closed Boston Harbor, rescinded Massachusetts charter, quartered troops in private homes.*Declaration of Independence

In January of 1776 an Englishman named Thomas Paine published a small book called Common Sense. The book said all kings in general, especially George III of England, were bad. The book also stated that America must be free. This book became a best-seller. It made Americans believe that America should be a free and independent nation.

*Drafted by Thomas Jefferson

*People had the right to “alter or abolish unjust governments.”

*(Locke)

*Popular sovereignty All government power comes from the people.

*King had trampled the peoples’ natural rights.

*Colonists now had the right to rebel

* Characteristics –

* Ornate

* Huge

* Colorful

* Glorified battles, lives of saintes

* The Night Watch, Rembrandt

The Syndics of the Amsterdam Drapers' Guild, Rembrandt

*Moved away from religious themes

*Lighter

*Elegant

*Charming

Happy Accidents of the Swing, Fragonard

The Composers

*Johann Sebastian Bach

*George Frederick Handel

*Joesph Hayden

*Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

*Ludwig von Beethoven

The Flute Concert of Frederick the Great by Adolph Menzel. It depicts the Prussian monarch standing and playing the flute, surrounded by adoring subjects and musicians in the glow of candle-lit chandeliers. This was when a warrior king could also be a Renaissance man, composer, consummate artist and patron of the humanities.

*Johann Sebastian Bach

*George Friedrich Handel

*Dramatic Organ & choral music

I’ll be Bach!

*Composers

*Joseph Haydn

*Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

*Ludwig van Beethoven

*Lighter, more elegant music

*Novels which had plots, suspense & character development.

*Entertaining stories enjoyed by middle classes.

*Written in language that was understood