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The Enlightenment: Age of Reason and Progress

The Enlightenment, a period spurred by the Scientific Revolution, reevaluated government, religion, economics, and education. Philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Beccaria proposed new ideas on governance, individual rights, separation of powers, and justice. The Enlightenment emphasized reason, progress, liberty, and social contract theory. Women like Mary Astell, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Emilie du Chatelet challenged traditional views and advocated for female education and rights.

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The Enlightenment: Age of Reason and Progress

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  1. The Enlightenment

  2. Age of Enlightenment = spurred by Sci. Rev. • Scholars reevaluated govt., religion, economics, & education • Stressed reason, thought, & power of individuals to solve probs.

  3. I. Two Ideas of Govt. • A. Hobbes • Thomas Hobbes—Leviathan (1651) • Humans = selfish & wicked (govt. must keep order!) Without govts. to keep order, there would be war…of every man against every man, & life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, & short. • Social Contract = people relinquish their rights to the govt. in return for law & order • BEST GOVT. = ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

  4. B. Locke • John Locke—people are reasonable & can govern themselves • Criticized absolute monarchy (favored self-govt) • People had 3 natural rights: • Life, Liberty, & Property • Govt. must protect these. If not… time for a new govt. • govt.’s power = consent of people (democracy)

  5. II. Political Criticism • Mid-1700s: Enlightenment reached height in Fr • Paris was center • “philosophes” = Fr. philosophers • People can apply reason to all aspects of life

  6. Five Concepts of Philosophes: • 1. Reason—truth can be discovered thru reason • 2. Nature—what was natural, was good/reasonable • 3. Happiness—seek well-being on earth • 4. Progress—man & society can improve • 5. Liberty—wanted liberties of England --Constitutional Monarchy & Bill of Rights

  7. A. Voltaire • Francois-Marie Arouet—Fr. Writer (“Voltaire”) • Used satire against clergy, aristocracy, govt. • Served two terms in jail & exiled to Eng. • Philosophical Letters (1734) • Also wrote: Candide = ridiculed oppressive govt., prejudice, & bigotry • Fought intolerance & injustice I do not agree with a word you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.

  8. B. Montesquieu • 1748: Baron de Montesquieu—published On the Spirit of Laws (a perfect govt.?) • Britain had the best govt. • Had 3 branches • Executive • Legislative • Judicial • Proposed separation of powers prevented individual take over • CHECKS & BALANCES – U.S. Constitution

  9. C. Rousseau • Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote The Social Contract (1762) • People are born good, but their enviro./civ. corrupts them • Believed in popular sovereignty • Man is born free, & everywhere he is in chains • Only good govt. = direct democracy

  10. His social contract differed from Hobbes’ • Hobbes = agreement betw. society & govt. • Rousseau = agreement among free individuals to create a govt. • All are equal & titles of nobility should be abolished (Fr. Rev. 1789)

  11. D. Beccaria • Cesare Bonesana Beccaria – justice system • Laws = preserve social order, NOT avenge crimes • Criticized abuses of justice • Torture & capital punishment • Govt. should seek the greatest good for the greatest # of people

  12. III. Women of the Enlightenment • Philosophes had traditional views on women • Education = teach women domestic duties • 1694: Mary Astell—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies (addressed lack of female education) • Mary Wollstonecraft—A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) • Women need education to become useful • Urged women into medicine & politics • Emilie du Chatelet—helped spread ideas of Sci. Rev.

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