Enlightenment “The Age of Reason”

1. Enlightenment“The Age of Reason”

2. What was it? • Where else have we heard the term “enlightenment?” • Buddhism • What did that mean? • Enlightenment • A new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems • Reached its height in the mid 1700s

3. Causes…? • Scientific Revolution? (Mid 1500s) • Careful observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs • Renaissance? (1300-1600) • Humanism – human potential and achievements • Secular – worldly • Absolutism • People didn’t have much power or say • English Civil War

4. Where do you think it started? • The Enlightenment reached its height in France • Paris became the meeting place to discuss ideas • Philosophes – social critics during the Enlightenment • What do you think they are doing here? • Salons – a social gathering of intellectuals and artists;

5. Main beliefs during Enlightenment • What you think each one of these means? • Reason • truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking • Nature • what was natural was also good and reasonable • Happiness • urged people to seek well-being on earth • Progress • society and humankind could improve • Liberty • Called for liberties that the English people had won

6. Social Contract • What does this do? • What happens if you don’t? • Social Contract: • Agreement by which people define and limit their individual rights, thus creating an organized society or govt.

7. 4 Enlightenment Philosophes Each had a different view about : HUMANS AND HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTROL THEM Locke Voltaire Hobbes Rousseau

8. Thomas Hobbes • Lived in England during the Civil War • State of human nature: • Unhappy and miserable • If you grew up during this time, would you want a strong government to take control? • Supported royal absolutism • Wrote The Leviathan • Powerful sea monster in the bible • Govt. should also be all-powerful and absolute Social contract

9. Da NuhNuh/Da NuhNuh • What would Hobbes’ theme song be, and why?

10. John Locke • Also lived during Civil War and Glorious Revolution • State of human nature: • Happy • People possessed natural rights to life, liberty, and property • Purpose of government: protect those rights • If the govt. failed to protect, people could…? • Overthrow it! • Where have we heard Locke’s ideas before? Social contract

11. Declaration of Independence • “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..”

12. Constitution

13. Da NuhNuh/Da NuhNuh • What would Locke’s theme song be, and why?

14. Voltaire • Francois Marie Arouet • Born in France • Had been jailed twice for sharp criticism • Criticized laws, customs, and even religion of France • Used his pen as a weapon to combat prejudice • “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it!” • What influence did he have over the U.S.? • Freedom of speech

15. Da NuhNuh/Da NuhNuh • What would Voltaire’s theme song be, and why?

16. Jean Jacques Rousseau • From Switzerland, born lower-class • State of human nature: • Happy and had natural rights • Wrote The Social Contract • People agreed to surrender rights to submit to the General Will • Will of the majority • Government was necessary to carry out rule of the majority • Used for communism and dictatorships • How??? Social contract

17. Da NuhNuh/Da NuhNuh • What would Rousseau’s theme song be, and why?

18. With all these new ideas about govt… • What do you think might happen?? • How could IDEAS cause revolutions?