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The Enlightenment
Politics & Philosophy
Bell RingerIn your notebooks, answer:
• What was the Enlightenment?• How did the SR impact the
Enlightenment?
Political Enlightenment
Three Themes in the Political Realm
1. Propertyo Central featureo Gives an individual a stake in society
2. Rightso Every individual is entitled to basic rights
simply because they exist3. Law
o That which makes 1 & 2 worko Guarantees property & rights
Political Philosophes
John Locke1632-1704
Most influential writing was “Two Treatises of Civil Government” written in 1690
Locke’s Philosophy• The individual must become a
“rational creature”• Virtue can be learned & practiced• Human beings possess free will
o They should be prepared for freedomo Obedience should be out of
conviction, not fear
Locke’s Philosophy (cont.)• Legislators owe their power to a
contract with the people• Neither kings nor wealth are divinely
ordained• There are certain natural rights that are
endowed by God to all human beingso Life, liberty, & property
• Favored a republic
Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Most influential writing was “Spirit of the Laws” written in 1748
“Countries are well-cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.”
Montesquieu’s Philosophy• Used England’s government as a
model for: • The separation of powers
• Executive Power = King • Legislative Power = Parliament• Judicial Power = Courts
• Checks & balances• Monarchs should be subject to
constitutional limits on their power
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712-1778
Most influential writing was “The Social Contract” written in 1762
Rousseau’s Philosophy• Tabula Rasa (blank slate)• Best traits of human character are
products of nature• Society corrupts people, therefore,
we must fix society
Rousseau (cont.)• In The Social Contract:
o The right kind of political order could make people truly moral & free
o Individual moral freedom could be achieved only by learning to subject one’s individual interests to the “General Will”
Rousseau - Social Contract (cont.)
o Individuals could do this by entering into a social contract - not with their rulers, but with each otheroThis social contract was derived from human
nature -NOT from history, tradition, or the Bible
o People = most free & moral under a republican form of government with a direct democracy
Philosophical Enlightenment
Marquis de Condorcet1743-1794
Most influential writing: Progress of the Human Mind (1794)
Condorcet’s Philosophy• Expectation of universal happiness• Every individual guided by reason
could enjoy true independence• Advocated:
o Free & equal educationo Constitutionalismo Equal rights for women
Immanuel Kant1724-1804
Most influential work:Critique of Pure Reason (1781)
Kant’s Philosophy
• Investigated the structure & limitations of reason
• Believed he created a compromise between the empiricists and the rationalists (experience + reason = Enlightenment)
Denis Diderot1713-1784
Most influential writing:The Encyclopedia (1751)(coauthor: Jean le Rond
d’Alembert)
Diderot’s Encyclopédie• Complete cycle of
knowledge that changed the general way of thinking
• 28 volumes• Alphabetical, cross-
referenced, illustrated
Voltaire1694-1778
• François Marie Arouet
• Most famous book: Candide (1759)
• Known for sharp wit that was often critical of the church and state
Voltaire (cont.)• Wrote plays, novels,
poetry, essays, & letters
• Fierce defender of civil liberties, especially:o Religious freedomo Free tradeo Freedom of speech
• Spent time imprisoned in the Bastille
Voltaire (cont.)
• Life (video)• Last words
Homework
• Worksheet: Voltaire• Due next class period