Chapter 6 – Section 2

1. Chapter 6 – Section 2 The Enlightenment in Europe

2. Introduction • Enlightenment – Age of Reason • Applying reason and the scientific method to all aspects of life • Society – Government, Religion, Economics, Education, Business, Thought, etc. • Do we see this in our society now?

3. Two Views on Government • Hobbes’s Social Contract • The English Civil War spurred Hobbes’s to conclude that all people are selfish and not nice. • Saw life as brutal and nasty (glass have empty type of guy • To overcome such nastiness, people needed to give up their rights to a central authority (absolute monarchy) • Gained law & order • Known as the Social contract where people created absolute monarchs with their own selfishness. • Hobbes’s said that absolute monarchs needed to rule like a leviathan (sea monster). Does this make any sense whatsoever? • Locke’s Natural Rights • He was a more “glass half-full” type of dude • People could learn from mistakes and improve themselves • Do you see both Hobbes’s and Locke’s theories today? Where? How? • Favored self-government • Believed in the 3 natural rights • Life • Liberty • Property • The government’s job was to protect these rights. The government was by and for the people by popular consent. • If government wasn’t for the people, Locke noted they should be overthrown. • This was a further step towards our modern-day democracy!!!

4. Philosophes Advocate Reason • Same thing as philosophers who met in France in the mid-1700s. • They believed they could APPLY reason to life just as scientists applied reason to science. • The core of their philosophy was based on 5 critical elements • Reason-Absence on intolerance, bigotry, bias, or prejudice in one’s thinking to make analytical decisions. • Nature-There were laws in science, but also societal laws in economics, behavior, politics, etc. • Happiness-A decent life on earth vs. being miserable so you could have joy in heaven. • Progress-Society moving forward and perfecting it through technology and science. • Liberty-Being free and trusting citizens to make good choices as to not screw it up.

5. Philosophes - Voltaire • “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” –Voltaire. • What does this statement indicate about Voltaire’s views on free speech? • How is it similar to beliefs about free speech in the U.S. • Voltaire didn’t foster changed with violence, but did it with the swipe of his pen. • Mocked France’s restrictive govt. • Envied England's govt. • Pushed for freedom from the repressive French govt. and freedom of religion. • Let people choose what’s best for them instead of an absolute monarch forcing it upon them. Nooooo! I’m with Voltaire

6. Montesquieu wants Separation • He was a writer just like Voltaire and used his pen to influence society. • Montesquieu also felt that England had an awesome govt. • King and his ministers – Carried out laws (Executive Power) • Parliament – Made laws (Legislative Power) • Judges/English Courts - Interpreted laws to determine legality (Judicial Power) • He called this division, Separation of Powers • What is the purpose of separation of powers? • To keep any one branch of government from gaining TOTAL control (Checks and Balances)

7. Views of Government

8. Jean Jacques Rousseau & Freedom • A very awkward man who didn’t fit in. • So…instead of conforming to society, he challenged it with new ideas. • According to Rousseau, “People had lived as free and equal individuals in a primitive ‘state of nature’”. • However, when people became more advanced and civilized people lost their freedom to unjust laws under an absolute monarchy • Believed that govt. should be formed by and for the people (Elections – Direct Democracy). • No social contract here!!! • No contract between people and govt., but free individuals creating a society. • His, radical at the time ideas, inspired many to embark on the French Revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1789.

9. Rousseau’s belief Had more freedom than… Civilized man

10. CesareBonesanaBeccaria & Criminal Justice • Believed laws were to promote social order, not to punish crime • Spoke out against injustices/abuses he had seen. • Torture • Illegitimate trials • Punishments that did not fit the crime, but were more severe • His argument consisted of: • A speedy trial • No torture • Punishment should fit the crime

11. Women and the Enlightenment • Mary Wollstonecraft • Published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792. • Rousseau was pretty cool in his thought process, but he was a sexist • Wollstonecraft challenged his thoughts • Women should receive same education as men • Women could be doctors, not just nurses • Women should participate in politics • Overall, women lobbied for better educational opportunities • Many wealthy women spread enlightenment ideas at salons (social gatherings)

12. Enlightenment’s Impact • Three long-term effects • Belief in Progress • If science could solve problems and gain believers, philosophes felt the could solve social problems too. • Secular Outlook • Promoted tolerance of all religions and rid Christianity of superstitions. • Believed in God, but proved God’s awesomeness through mathematics and science instead of it being a mystery. • Importance of Individual • Becoming self-reliant instead of depending on royalty and the church. • Know morals (Difference between right and wrong).