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The Enlightenment: Progress of Reason in Governance and Society

The Enlightenment was a pivotal time (1500s-1800s) when European thinkers harnessed reason to understand the world. Central figures included Thomas Hobbes, who advocated for absolute monarchy in his work "Leviathan," and John Locke, who proposed natural rights to life, liberty, and property, challenging oppressive governments. Philosophes like Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau advanced ideas on governance, liberty, and societal reform. The movement paved the way for American and French Revolutions, integrating reason and enlightenment ideals into political structures and sparking fundamental changes in European society.

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The Enlightenment: Progress of Reason in Governance and Society

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  1. Enlightenment & American Revolution Ch 17

  2. Philosophy in the Age of Reason Sec 1

  3. Natural Law • Who: Europeans • What: rules that are discoverable by reasoning that governed scientific forces such as gravity & magnetism • Where: Europe • When: 1500s-1600s • Why: scientific success convinced educated Europeans of the power of human reason; used to better understand social, economic, & political probs; used this to study human behavior & solve probs = led to the Enlightenment

  4. Thomas Hobbes • Who: 17th century English thinker • What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment ; wrote “Leviathan” • Where: England • When: 1700s • Why: he lived through upheavals in the English Civil War; outlined his ideas in “Leviathan”= argued that ppl were naturally cruel, greedy & selfish; he said that ppl entered into “Social Contract” to avoid brutal life; best gov’t= Absolute Monarchy

  5. John Locke • Who: 17th century English thinker • What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment • Where: England • When: 1700s • Why: he thought ppl were reasonable & moral; ppl had certain natural rights: life, liberty, & property; came to very diff ideas about the human nature & role of govt= govt has obligation to its ppl, if it fails, it fails the ppl = if govt violates natural rights = ppl have a right to overthrow= American & French Revolutions

  6. Social Contract • Who: European ppl; Thomas Hobbes • What: an agreement where ppl gave up their freedom for an organized society • Where: Europe • When: 1500s-1600s • Why: Hobbes said that ppl entered into this agreement to escape the brutish lifestyle; believed a powerful govt = orderly society; promoted Absolutism

  7. Natural Right • Who: John Locke • What: rights that belonged to all humans on earth such as life, liberty, & property • Where: England • When: 1700-1800s • Why: Locke believed ppl are reasonable & moral= they have rights from birth; ppl had a right to overthrow a govt if these rights were violated = American & French Revolutions

  8. Philosophe • Who: French Enlightenment thinkers/philosophers • What: they believed the use of reason could lead to reforms of gov’t, law, & society • Where: France, Europe • When: 1700s • Why: this group of thinkers started Enlightenment thought = spread throughout Europe & beyond; applied methods of science to improve society

  9. Montesquieu • Who: an early influential thinker; a philisophe • What: studied the gov’ts of Europe & learned about Chinese & Native Am. Cultures; wrote “Sprit of Laws” • Where: France, Europe • When: 1689-1748 • Why: his sharp criticism of Absolutism = debate; in order to protect liberty the gov’t should be divided into 3 branches; idea taken by framers of US Constitution; wrote “Persian Letters”= ridiculed French Gov’t

  10. Voltaire • Who: a Philosophe, poet & historian • What: an imprisoned poet, historian, essayist & philosopher • Where: Paris, France • When: 1694-1778 • Why: he detested the slave trade; deplored religious prejudice; defended principle of freedom of speech; his new ideas= imprisoned & forced into exile

  11. Diderot • Who: a Philosophe, editor of the Encyclopedia • What: he produced a 28-volume set of books called the Encyclopedia • Where: Europe, the Americas • When: 1751-1789 • Why: he wanted to change the general way of thinking by explaining ideas on topics such as gov’t, philosophy, religion = urged education for all ; included articles from Montesquieu & Voltaire; denounced slavery & praised freedom of expression

  12. Rousseau • Who: Jean-Jacques Rousseau; a Philosophe • What: created the Social Contract (book) society placed too many limitations on ppl’s behavior; believed that ppl were basically good • Where: France • When: 1762 • Why: believed in good will & best conscience of the ppl; he showed great hate for oppression; his ideas= American & French Revolutions

  13. Laissez-Faire • Who: French thinkers; Adam Smith • What: a policy allowing business to operate w/ little or no gov’t interference • Where: France, • When: 1700-1800 • Why: this rejected Mercantilism= gov’t controls the economy to reach a favorable balance of trade; this supported free trade & opposed tarriffs

  14. Adam Smith • Who: Scottish Economist • What: In his influential work “Wealth of Nations” he advocated for the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity • Where: Scotland, Europe, Americas • When: 1800-1900s • Why: he was a strong supporter of Laissez-Faire; felt gov’t should only administer justice & provide public work; his ideas= shape productive economies in 1800-1900s

  15. Rococo • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

  16. Enlightenment Ideas SpreadSec 2

  17. Censorship • Who: European writers • What: restricting access to ideas & info • Where: France, Europe, Americas, Middle East • When: 1700s • Why: Authorities had to defend the “Old order” that God had set up agnst the writers’ new ideas= banned all books & burn books & imprison the writers= writers disguise their ideas in fiction

  18. Salons • Who: writers, artists ,& philosophers; French women • What: an informal social gathering for women in their homes • Where: Paris, France • When: 1600-1700s • Why: it started in 1600s- noblewomen began inviting friends to their homes for poetry readings; by 1700s it flourished- middle class women are now invited= equal footing = discuss & spread enlightenment ideas

  19. Baroque • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

  20. Enlightenment Despot • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

  21. Frederick the Great • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

  22. Catherine the Great • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

  23. Joseph II • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

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