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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. Why study the Enlightenment? To explore the ideas and ideals of the 18 th century Enlightenment thinkers called the Philosophes To understand how they continue to influence our basic notions about the nature of people and the world in which they live.

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment

  2. Why study the Enlightenment? • To explore the ideas and ideals of the 18th century Enlightenment thinkers called the Philosophes • To understand how they continue to influence our basic notions about the nature of people and the world in which they live

  3. How does the Scientific Revolution fit in? • 17th century—Scientific Revolution provided a new model for how problems could be solved through rational thought and experimentation, instead of on the authority of religion or the ancients • Science & rational theory became the common ground that united everyone (Catholic or Protestant) • Believed that with the right use of reason, all society’s problems could be solved & everyone could live happily ever after

  4. Main Question of the Enlightenment • How does one make mankind happy, rational, and free? • Their answer: by discovering underlying laws that would organize all knowledge into a clear, rational system, allowing individuals to become enlightened, and the societies in which they live to progress

  5. Using S.R. for Enlightenment • Thomas Hobbes & John Locke (both English) were amongst the first to use a scientific approach to study man & his society • Hobbes: pessimistic view of nature; humans were competitive & fear is their most powerful motivator • Locke: optimistic; men were basically reasonable & cooperative

  6. Hobbes: All humans are naturally selfish & wicked People have to hand over their rights to a strong ruler to get law & order (social contract) Ruler needs total power to keep citizens under control Locke: People can learn from their experiences & improve themselves They have the natural ability to govern their own affairs & to look after the welfare of society People are born free & equal Natural rights: life, liberty, property Montesquieu: Separation of powers Rousseau: Social Contract: an agreement among free individuals to create a society and government Legitimate government comes from the consent of the governed Free response writing: In what ways did this philosophes impact our government today?

  7. Analyzing Hobbes & Locke • Read the documents and underline the most important information to understand their theories • List examples that support each theory. • Which point of view do you think is more accurate & why? • How could Locke & Hobbes have come up with such different conclusions?

  8. Basic Tenets of Philosophes • Human society is governed by Natural Laws. • These Natural Laws can be discovered by rational men. • Human society can turn from traditional, authoritarian forms, and progress toward a more perfect government through rational thought.

  9. Group 1: Allen, Thomas Catron, Victoria Dinneweth, Taylor Hughes, Mitchell Group 2: Knight, Jamie Leik, Maria McGraw, Lindsey Nitzel-Buchanan, Amanda Sandknop, Lindsey • Group 3: • Arthur, Jake • Elliott, Joseph • Hermiston, Emily • Reed, Nicole • Group 4: • Lane, Christopher • Minney, Alyssa • Mitchell, Kylie • Oostenryk, Lorren • Group 5: • Ballard, Anthony • Dempsey, Kylie • Hodges, Austin • Keinrath, Alexander • Group 6: • Griffiths, Victoria • Kallenberger, Kaycee • Wilson, Ben

  10. How does Enlightenment lead to Revolution? • While most philosophes thought England’s constitutional monarchy was most progressive form of govt. in England, some English colonists disagreed. • Emboldened by Enlightenment ideas, they overthrew the English crown (American Revolution) • The A.R. led to further revolutions.

  11. A Time of Changing ideas

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