Scientific Revolution and Scientific Revolution and The Age of EnlightenmentThe Age of Enlightenment

Also known as “The Age of Also known as “The Age of Reason”Reason”Sci. Rev. = new way of examining Sci. Rev. = new way of examining the world logically (scientific the world logically (scientific method, etc.) Began in 1600s.method, etc.) Began in 1600s.Paved way for Enlightenment.Paved way for Enlightenment.Height = mid-1700sHeight = mid-1700s

Key IdeasKey Ideas

Enlightenment philosophers admire Enlightenment philosophers admire scientists’ use of reason to understand the scientists’ use of reason to understand the natural world.natural world.Promote reason to understand Promote reason to understand government, religion, education, and government, religion, education, and economics.economics.Advocate government reform and social Advocate government reform and social improvement.improvement.

Enlightened PhilosophersEnlightened Philosophers

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Believed people Believed people always acted in always acted in their own self their own self interestinterestGovernment Government needed to keep needed to keep orderorderLife w/o gov’t = Life w/o gov’t = solitary, poor, solitary, poor, brutish, short.brutish, short.

John LockeJohn Locke

Thought people were Thought people were reasonable & had reasonable & had natural ability to govern natural ability to govern themselvesthemselves

Purpose of government Purpose of government = protect = protect natural rightsnatural rights of life, liberty, and of life, liberty, and propertyproperty

VoltaireVoltaire

Tolerance, reason, Tolerance, reason, and and freedom of freedom of thoughtthought, expression, , expression, and religious beliefand religious belief

MontesquieuMontesquieuIdea of Separation of Idea of Separation of Powers (3 branches Powers (3 branches of government) & of government) & checks and balances checks and balances to keep any individual to keep any individual or group from gaining or group from gaining complete control of complete control of the governmentthe government

RousseauRousseau

Viewed government as Viewed government as a a Social ContractSocial Contract among free individuals among free individuals to create a society to create a society guided by the “general guided by the “general will”will”

Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft

Argued for women’s Argued for women’s education and education and political participationpolitical participation

Believed women, like Believed women, like men, need education men, need education to become virtuous to become virtuous and usefuland useful

How did Enlightenment writers and How did Enlightenment writers and thinkers set the stage for thinkers set the stage for

revolutionary movements?revolutionary movements?

Encouraged peopleEncouraged people

– to judge for themselves what was right or to judge for themselves what was right or wrong in societywrong in society

– Rely on human reason to solve social problemsRely on human reason to solve social problems

Major Ideas of the Major Ideas of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Natural Rights – life, liberty, propertyNatural Rights – life, liberty, property = Locke = LockeFreedom of Thought and ExpressionFreedom of Thought and Expression = = VoltaireVoltaireReligious FreedomReligious Freedom = Voltaire = VoltaireSeparation of PowersSeparation of Powers = Montesquieu = MontesquieuRebellion against corrupt Gov’t is okay Rebellion against corrupt Gov’t is okay = = RousseauRousseauWomen’s EqualityWomen’s Equality = Wollstonecraft = Wollstonecraft

QuestionsQuestionsVoltaire is credited with saying: “I Voltaire is credited with saying: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say defend to the death your right to say it.” What does this statement indicate it.” What does this statement indicate about Voltaire’s views on free speech? about Voltaire’s views on free speech? How is it similar to beliefs about free How is it similar to beliefs about free speech in the U.S.?speech in the U.S.?

Whose ideas are most like your Whose ideas are most like your own? Why?own? Why?

HobbesHobbes

– People are People are selfish, self-selfish, self-serving, and serving, and brutal. brutal.

– Without control, Without control, society would be society would be chaoticchaotic

LockeLocke

– People are People are reasonable and reasonable and able to make able to make decisions.decisions.

– People should be People should be able to rule able to rule themselves.themselves.

The EndThe End