THE ENLIGHTENMENT The Age of Reason WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Many of our own ideas about government, such as the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution got their ideas directly from the Enlightenment. In fact, many of Americas founding fathers studied the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers during the American Revolution. Left to right: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson : European scientists using reason to discover laws of nature Very successful: Planetary movements, chemistry, vaccine for smallpox, etc. Early 1700s: If people used reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws? Laws that govern human nature Reformers begin studying human nature and societal problems SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION LEADS TO ENLIGHTENMENT The Enlightenment grew out of the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. Whats the same?: Like all of these other movements, much Enlightenment thinking challenged accepted beliefs. Whats new?: Enlightenment philosophers wanted to use the ideas and reason of the Scientific Revolution for problems in government and society. ROOTS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT FRANCIS BACON AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD The scientific method Observation and experimentation Testable hypothesis Sir Francis Bacon ISAAC NEWTON AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Used the scientific method to make a range of discoveries Newtons achievements using the scientific method helped inspire Enlightenment thinkers Sir Isaac Newton REN DESCARTES (15961650) French philosopher and mathematician Questioned the basis of his own knowledge Cogito ergo sum = I think, therefore, I am Salons: Men and women (philosophes) gather in living rooms to discuss Enlightenment ideas (chat rooms) VOLTAIRE (16941778) Most famous philosophe Wrote plays, essays, poetry, philosophy, and books Attacked the relics of the medieval social order Championed social, political, and religious tolerance THE ENCYCLOPDIE Major achievement of the philosophes Begun in 1745; completed in 1765 Frontspiece to the Encyclopdie THE ENCYCLOPDIE (CONTINUED) Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond dAlembert Banned by the Catholic Church Encyclopdie editor Denis Diderot Philosophy: We learn from our experiences Politics: limited government and natural rights (rights we are all born with: life, liberty, and property) Believed government have obligations to their citizens and can ultimately be overthrown by them Taught religious tolerance JOHN LOCKE THOMAS HOBBES (15881679) Applied rational analysis to the study of government Attacked the concept of divine right, yet supported a strong monarchy Believed that humans were basically driven by passions and needed to be kept in check by a powerful ruler JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (17121778) Wrote about the nature of society and government The Social Contract Father of socialism Wrote that liberty is everyones birthright but that civilization reduced liberty. BARON DE MONTESQUIEU (16891755) French noble and political philosopher The Spirit of the Laws MONTESQUIEU (CONTINUED) Separation of powers Legislative Executive Judiciary Constitutional monarchy Frontspiece to The Spirit of the Laws WOMEN AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT Changing views Role of education Equality Mary WollstonecraftMadame Geoffrin MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT Declaration of the Rights of Man A Vindication of the Rights of Women WOLLSTONECRAFT (CONTINUED) Fought for womens education It is time to effect a revolution in female mannerstime to restore to them their lost dignityand make them, as a part of the human species, labor by reforming themselves to reform the world. Many regard A Vindication of the Rights of Women as marking the beginning of the modern womens rights movement. Title page of Wollstonecrafts Thoughts on the Education of Daughters MADAME GEOFFRIN Hosted a salon in Paris to stimulate intellectual discussion Her guests included the most important Enlightenment thinkers and artists (philosophes) Financed encyclopedia THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Influenced by Locke and Montesquieu The Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson THE U.S. CONSTITUTION Separation of powers Checks and balances Painting depicting the Constitutional Convention Laissez-Faire: hands off government Believed government should not limit the rights of individuals or business ADAM SMITH