Enlightenment

Changes in Government

17.1 The Enlightenment

• The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment (Mid 1700’s)

• -“Age of Reason”• Begins in England. Why?• -Five core concepts of reason for all aspects of

life for enlightenment thinkers:– Reason– Natural Laws (rules governed by reason)– Happiness– Progress– Liberty

Thomas Hobbesp. 545

• Life without laws or control is, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

• “Leviathan” (1651) was famous work. Outlook?

• “Social contract” concept

• Advocate for absolute monarchy.

John Lockep.545• Gov’t to protect rights

• More positive view/favored self-gov’t.

• Tabula Rasa• Gov’t. responsibilities-obligation to people it governs• Natural rights

– Life– Liberty– Property– “Two Treatises on

Government”

• Radical thought? What did Locke feel about gov’t that did not fulfill its obligation?

Question

• Is one more correct than the other? Why?• Which person is more in line with the

values of the US?• Which was a product of his times, and

which was more progressive?

French Philosophes

• New ideas in France b/c of British Revolution which challenged status quo.

• Ideas spread in salons of Paris• British inspiration France Rest of

Europe• 4 Main: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot,

Rousseau

“Encyclopedia” definition of philosophe

• …trampling on prejudice, tradition, universal consent, authority, in a word all that enslaves most minds, dares to think for himself, to go back and search for the clearest general principles, to admit nothing except on the testimony of his experience and his reason.

• http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture9a.html

Montesquieu• “On the Spirit of Laws”

(1748)

– Separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial)

– “Power should be a check to power” ------> checks and balances

Voltaire

• Criticized the Church, Government, Establishment through parody, plays, books.– Targeted corrupt officials and

idle aristocrats• “All brothers in god” from

Treatise on Toleration• Imprisoned and exiled• “My trade…is to say what I

think.”

Diderot

• The Encyclopedia spread ideas of the enlightenment/salons to many others. (1751-1772)

• “Change the way of thinking”• Banned by many for promoting new ideas.

Rousseau• PERSONAL freedoms • Civilization corrupted/not

enlightened b/c the strongest ended up taking advantage of the weak=freedoms lost

• “The Social Contract” 1762 different from Hobbes. Contract among people nobility/titles wrong

• Only freely elected governments can impose minimal controls on citizens

• The General Will (what is in the best interest of the people)

17.2 Spread of Enlightenment

• “Never have new ideas had such rapid circulation at such long distance”

Idea of Social Sciences Led to New Studies

• Adam Smith and Laissez-Faire economics

• “Wealth of Nations”: Gov’t has 3 roles– Protect from invasion– Police– Public works

Why Is It Important?

• Their theories ended up inspiring French/American Revolutions.

• 1. Progress (i.e.: science, medicine, reason, social improvements)

• 2. Secular outlook (began to explain “God’s mysteries” w/ science) Questioned Church

• 3. Emphasis on the individual• 4. Led to increase in reading and learning throughout

Europe.

Enlightened Despots

• Catherine the Great (Russia) 1762• Followed Peter the Great, married Tsar Peter III

-reformed government and some laws

-abolished torture

-religious tolerance

-Charter of rights for nobles

However; Catherine is viewed as a ruthless absolute leader – repressed peasants, expanded Russian boarders via war with Turkey, partitioned Poland with Russia, Prussia, and Austria in 1772-1795 (Poland did not return until 1919)

Impact

• What was the main idea of the enlightenment? Who would have a problem with that? Which group may not have been represented in these ideas? Why?