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The Ideas of the Enlightenment

The Ideas of the Enlightenment. New Ideas About Politics. During the 1700’s, many Europeans believed that reason could be used to make government and society better. Blinded Me With Science. 1700’s thinkers impressed by scientific discoveries

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The Ideas of the Enlightenment

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  1. The Ideas of the Enlightenment

  2. New Ideas About Politics • During the 1700’s, many Europeans believed that reason could be used to make government and society better.

  3. Blinded Me With Science • 1700’s thinkers impressed by scientific discoveries • Reason can uncover scientific laws for human life / behavior • These laws could make life / society better

  4. Reason is the light • Reason better guide than faith or tradition • Reason like a light to reveal errors and show us the path to Truth. • The “light” in The Enlightenment.

  5. Influences on the New Ideas • Greek Philosophers – Plato, Aristotle, Socrates – used reason • Romans – Laws and systems of government – emphasized order • Renaissance use of reason • Reformation – critical thinking • Scientific Revolution – reason / experiments

  6. Enlightenment & Christianity • Some writers rejected Christianity, • Believed that it interfered with reason and with gaining knowledge

  7. Natural Law • A law that applies to everyone and can be understood with reason. • Developed by applying scientific thinking and reason to government.

  8. Thomas Hobbes • Wrote about Government • Influenced by events of the English Civil War

  9. The English Civil War • Charles I wanted to raise taxes to pay for wars. • Parliament said “No.” • Charles went to war with Parliament. • Parliament wins and…

  10. The English Civil War

  11. The English Civil War • Charles I is executed • Oliver Cromwell becomes “Lord Protector” • Hobbes is shocked by the violence and senselessness of the Civil War. • Shapes his thinking on human nature and government.

  12. Leviathan • Published 1651 • Hobbes used natural law to show that a strong monarchy is the best form of government.

  13. Nasty, Brutish, and Short • Hobbes thought people were selfish and violent by nature. • Without society, people would just fight each other and make life “nasty, brutish, and short.” • People can’t be trusted to make our own decisions.

  14. Freedom for Security • To protect ourselves we give up some of our freedoms to a powerful ruler. • We are all part of the government because we agree to let it rule over us. • It has to be one ruler to limit arguments and power struggles.

  15. John Locke • Wrote about government • Believed that a single ruler was against natural law. • Influenced by the “Glorious Revolution” in England.

  16. The Glorious Revolution • After Oliver Cromwell died, the Commonwealth fell apart. • Charles II, son of beheaded Charles I, was restored to the throne and then died without an heir. • James I, 2nd son of Charles I, then became King.

  17. The Glorious Revolution • James I was unpopular because he was Catholic. • Parliament would just wait for James I to die so his Protestant daughter Mary would become Queen. • Then James had a son.

  18. The Glorious Revolution • Parliament didn’t want another Catholic King, so the “invited” Mary (James’ daughter) and her husband William of Orange to become Queen and King. • They accepted and moved in • James left England for Exile in France

  19. English Bill of Rights • After The Glorious Revolution, William & Mary signed the English Bill of Rights, which guaranteed basic rights to all Englishmen. • Relatively bloodless, and more political power to Parliament. • This impressed Locke.

  20. Two Treatises of Government • Published in 1690 • People are born with rights to life, liberty, and property. • Governments exist to protect those rights. • If government doesn’t protect your rights, get rid of it and make a new one.

  21. Social Contract • An agreement between the people and the ruler. • Locke says a government’s authority is based on a social contract.

  22. Montesquieu • French • 1748, he published The Spirit of Laws • He admired English government because it had a separation of powers.

  23. Separation of Powers • Power of government should be divided between different branches. • Executive Branch – enforces laws • Legislative Branch – makes laws • Judicial Branch – interprets the laws • Checks & Balances – each branch has some power over the others – none too powerful.

  24. The French Philosophes • The Enlightenment was centered in France, where thinkers wrote about changing their society and met to discuss ideas.

  25. Philosophe • (fee* luh* ZAWF) • A French philosopher • Writers, Teachers, observers of society

  26. Goals of a Philosophe • Use reason to change society • Attack superstition • Opposed to Church’s opposition to science • Freedom of Speech! • Liberty!

  27. Spread the Word • Good writers! • Built strong arguments • Had style people wanted to read

  28. Voltaire “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” • Francois-Marie Arouet • “Greatest Thinker of the Enlightenment” • Wrote novels, plays, essays

  29. Voltaire & the Church • Disliked the Catholic Church • Not right to keep knowledge (science) from people to preserve power/authority.

  30. Voltaire & the government • Disagreed with government support of a church and/or forbidding other • People should be allowed to choose their own beliefs! • Early form of “Separation of Church and State”

  31. Denis Diderot • Diderot = (dee* DROH) – it’s French! • “Enlightenment Google” • 28-Volume Encyclopedia • Covered science, religion, government, and the arts

  32. Mary Wollstonecraft • English writer • Challenged thinking that women were less important than men • Founder of modern Women’s Rights movement

  33. A Vindication of the Rights of Women • Published 1792 • “All humans have reason…” • Since women have reason, they deserve the same rights as men • Equal rights in education, work, and politics

  34. Rousseau "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” • Jean Jacques Rousseau • A critic of Enlightenment thinking.

  35. Rousseau’s Ideas • Too much reason is not a good thing • Pay more attention to your feelings • People are naturally good, it’s society that messes us up.

  36. The Social Contract • Published 1762 • Government is based on a social contract • We agree to be governed by the general will • We go along with what is best for the most people.

  37. Cesare Bonesana Beccaria

  38. Beccaria & the Justice System • Italian • On Crimes and Punishments (1764) • Against torture and capital punishment • In favor of speedy and fair trials • Thought punishments should fit the crime • Government should seek greatest good for the most people.

  39. The End.

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