The Enlightenment:

The Age of Reason

DFA

What are some general differences in the way Enlightenment thinkers saw the world?

Background to the Enlightenment

The Scientific Revolution had changed the way people looked at the world, showing the power of human reason

If natural laws, or rules discovered by reason, could explain scientific laws, why couldn’t it also apply to government, religion, and the economy?

Philosophes used natural law to obtain political reform

Physiocrats used natural law to obtain economic reform

What was different about Enlightenment thinkers?

Generally Against Monarchy Divine Right Religion Superstition Intolerance Censorship Slavery Mercantilism and

Feudalism

Generally For: Democracy Natural Rights Reason Science Tolerance Free Speech Freedom/Equality Free Markets

(Capitalism)

John Locke Believed in Natural

Rights, or rights given to humans at birth (life, liberty, property)

Gov’t must protect natural rights of citizens, or risk being overthrown

Thus, the Government works for the People

What do you think?

Thomas Hobbes People are

naturally cruel and must be controlled

Only powerful gov’t could control society

Opposite of Locke What do you think?

Montesquieu Criticized Absolute

Monarchy Influenced the U.S.

Constitution because he believed in: Separation of Powers Checks and Balances

Voltaire Battled…

Inequality Slavery Superstition Religion Intolerance Censorship

Religion and Monarchy are enemies of the Enlightenment

Used satire

Voltaire Sayings: “God is always on the side of the big

battalions.” “I have never made but one prayer

to God, a very short one: 'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it. “It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

Diderot Compiled articles

from “Freethinkers” in his Encyclopedia

Denounced: slavery divine right religious

traditions Fought for:

Freedom of Expression

Universal Education

Rousseau

Believed a government may only exist if it is freely elected (Democracy)

Unequal distribution of property bred evil

Spoke against political and economic oppression

Mary Wollstonecraft

Woman’s first priority = motherhood

However, a woman can decide her best interest w/o husband

Fought for equal education for males and females alike

Wollstonecraft quotes…

“Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.”

“The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be contested without danger.”

“Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government.”

Adam Smith

Physiocrat – economic reform

Wrote Wealth of Nations Argued that a free,

unregulated market, laissez faire, would keep prices under control

Supply & Demand – profit motivated producers to meet society’s demands

Gov’t should only exist to: Establish Justice Provide public services National Security

Thomas Paine Pro-Democracy All men born w/ equal

rights - abolitionist Against religion, but

still open to existence of a god

Supported taxes for equality

Inspired revolutions in USA and France

Review Connect Scientific Revolution with the

Enlightenment. Explain generalizations about Enlightenment

thought Differences b/w Locke and Hobbes In what ways did Enlightenment thinkers

inspire revolution How was our government and economic

structure inspired off the Enlightenment thinkers?