The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment

17th & 18th century Europe

What's the big idea?

The Enlightenment led was a philosophical and intelectual movement mostly concerned with the role and rights of the individual, society, and government. The ideas of the Enlightenment would be a main catalyst of many revolutions, such as the American & French revolutions.

What was the Enlightenment?

• Belief in the idea of "societal progress"

• Desire of political and social change

• Belief that reason could be used to build a better world for all

• Willingness to challange the "status quo"

Multiple Select

Check ALL boxes that refer to the Enlightenment

• Europe, 1600s-1700s

• Europe, 1300s-1400s

• Belief in societal progress

• Restructuring of the Catholic Church

• Concern over the role of the government

The major beliefs of the Enlightenment can be structured around 5 major themes:

• Beliefs about REASON

• Beliefs about NATURE

• Beliefs about HAPPINESS

• Beliefs about PROGRESS

• Beliefs about LIBERTY

Beliefs about REASON

• Enlightenment thinkers believed the truth could be discovered through reason and logial thinkly

• They were directly opposed to empiricism

• Directly inspired by the Scientific Revolution

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Beliefs about NATURE

• Enlightenment thinkers believed that was was natural was also good and reasonable

• They believed people could apply logic to nature to uncover natural laws

• This led to the belief of NATURAL RIGHTS

Beliefs about HAPPINESS

• Enlightenment thinkers rejected the Medieval idea that people are destined to have a hard life but will find joy in Heaven

• They believed happiness is found on Earth and the government should promote the happiness of the citisens

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Beliefs about PROGRESS

• Just like science, Enlightenment thinkers believed government and society could be improved and perfected

• They were not happy with ideas like "Well, it's always been this way..."

Beliefs about LIBERTY

• Enlightenment thinkers believed that people are born with certain freedoms, called NATURAL RIGHTS, and the government should not be able to take them away

• John Locke coined the term "natural rights," and defined them as "life, health, liberty or possessions."

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences would MOST LIKELY be said by an Enlightenment thinker?

• While life is tough, we should be happy with what we have. Life could always be worse.

• Although the King is not the best monarch, his right to rule comes from God. We should not challange his authority.

• Life is not perfect, but we can improve it if we use logical thinking and question why things are the way they are.

5 Enlightenment Philosophers

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rosseau

• Montesquiei

• Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes, England, 1588-1679

• Wrote a book called "The Leviathan"

• Argued that people are selfish & greedy by nature, so the average person should not have a say in government

• Said an ABSOLUTE MONARCH was the best system of government to avoud chaos

• His beleifs were used to justify monarch's right to rule

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Jonn Lock, Enland, 1632-1704

• Wrote "Two Treatesies of Government"

• Had the ideas that a government's power comes from the consent of the people

• Said the purpose of government is to protect people's NATURAL RIGHTS

• Also said that governments need limits or they will become abusive

• Stated that people have to right to overthrow their government if it fails to protect their natural rights

Multiple Choice

Which statement best defines John Locke's belifs about NATURAL RIGHTS

• Natural rights are things that you are born with and cannot be taken away

• Natural rights are limitiations placed upon society by the government

• Natural rights are indiviudal liberties that must be given to people by the government

Jean-Jacques Rosseau, 1712-1788, Switzerland/France

• Wrote "the Social Contract"

• Believed that society is naturally corrupt

• Stated that people must be taught to put the community before themsleves (the group is more important than the individual)

• Belived the best type of government was a DIRECT DEOMCRACY (people vote directly on leaders in public elections)

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Montesquieu, 1689-1755, France

• Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu

• Wrote "The Spirit of the Laws"

• Believed in a "seperation of power" to prevent one group of the goernment from having too puch power

• His beliefs are the BASIS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

Voltaire (aka Francois-Marie Arouet), 1694-1778, France

• Belieed an "ENLIGHTENED DESPOT" is needed to guide people & protect their natural rights

• Had the idea that a well qualified king is better than an elected "commoner"

• Belived that noone was immune to "improvement through reason"

• Stressed the rights of the individual (Freedom of Speech, Religion, etc.)

• His beliefs about individual liberties are the BASIS OF THE U.S. BILL OF RIGHTS

Multiple Choice

Which overarching beliefs is shared by these Enlightenment thinkers

• Everything can be improved through logical reasoning

• All governments need a strong monarch

• Individuals need to be willing to sacrafice individual liberties for the nation