The Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution

• = Ancient ideas of the church challenged by scholars

• Many scholars persecuted by the Church – Copernicus (Sun not earth

at center of universe)– Galileo Galiliei

(Telescope, New theories on space)

– Issac Newton (Gravity)

The Enlightenment

• = period of new ideas thoughts on government, the individual, and society

• Thomas Hobbes– Social Contract = People

must give up some of their rights to a strong ruler

– People are born evil

The Enlightenment

• John Locke– People are born free &

equal– Natural Rights (life,

liberty, & property)– Govt. must protect these

rights)

• Baron de Montesquieu– Believed in the separation

of power in govt. – Should have checks and

balances

The Enlightenment

• Jacques Rousseau– People are born free but

society corrupts them

• Voltaire– “I disagree with what you

say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

• Mary Wollstonecraft– Equal rights for women /

education