Age of Reason and the Age of Reason and the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Europe in the 18Europe in the 18thth century century

• PoliticsPolitics – countries ruled by divine – countries ruled by divine right, people had little say in the right, people had little say in the government government

• ReligionReligion–religious persecution, –religious persecution, intoleranceintolerance

• SocietySociety – increased literacy, social – increased literacy, social inequalityinequality

Origins of the Enlightenment – Origins of the Enlightenment – John Locke and Thomas John Locke and Thomas HobbesHobbes• Both lived through English Civil WarBoth lived through English Civil War• Two views of revolutionTwo views of revolution• Hobbes: man is evil, needs absolute Hobbes: man is evil, needs absolute

government to keep order in societygovernment to keep order in society• Locke: man is good, had natural Locke: man is good, had natural

rights (life, liberty and property) that rights (life, liberty and property) that we were born with and government we were born with and government could not take away.could not take away.

Origins of the Origins of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• Hobbes and Locke and the Social Hobbes and Locke and the Social ContractContract

• Social Contract – agreement between Social Contract – agreement between the government and the peoplethe government and the people

•Hobbes: people give up rights in order to Hobbes: people give up rights in order to live in a secure society (freedom for order)live in a secure society (freedom for order)

Origins of the Origins of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

•Locke: people act reasonable (rational) and Locke: people act reasonable (rational) and the government protects their natural rightsthe government protects their natural rights

– People don’t act reasonable, rights taken away People don’t act reasonable, rights taken away (go to jail)(go to jail)

– Government takes away rights unjustly, people Government takes away rights unjustly, people have the right to overthrow the governmenthave the right to overthrow the government

*** Locke inspired ideas in the *** Locke inspired ideas in the Declaration of Independence, written Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson****by Thomas Jefferson****

John Locke - EnglishJohn Locke - English

Thomas Hobbes - EnglishThomas Hobbes - English

Origins of the Enlightenment - Origins of the Enlightenment - ScientificScientific

• Scientific Revolution – Newton (laws of Scientific Revolution – Newton (laws of gravity, motion), Bacon (scientific gravity, motion), Bacon (scientific method)method)

• Philosophes – French philosophers – Philosophes – French philosophers – believed that like scientific laws (gravity), believed that like scientific laws (gravity), there were also laws that governed there were also laws that governed human behavior – these were called…human behavior – these were called…

• Natural lawsNatural laws

Origins of the Enlightenment - Origins of the Enlightenment - ReligiousReligious

• Attempted to explain God through Attempted to explain God through his his work in naturework in nature and not solely and not solely through his biblical Word.through his biblical Word.

• Supported a “rational religion”, free Supported a “rational religion”, free from superstitions, mysteries and from superstitions, mysteries and miracles.miracles.

• Like scientists of the scientific Like scientists of the scientific revolution wanted facts, not theory.revolution wanted facts, not theory.

Origins of the Enlightenment - Origins of the Enlightenment - ReligiousReligious

• DeismDeism•Belief in God or supreme beingBelief in God or supreme being

•God was “hands-off” – set up everything and God was “hands-off” – set up everything and uninvolved in daily lives of humansuninvolved in daily lives of humans

•No point in any specific religion – Not No point in any specific religion – Not technically Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.technically Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.

DeistsDeists

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• Rationalism – use of reasonRationalism – use of reason

• Secularism – application of scientific Secularism – application of scientific methods to religion and philosophymethods to religion and philosophy

• Scientific MethodScientific Method– Experimentation and observationExperimentation and observation

• Utilitarianism – philosophy – the greatest Utilitarianism – philosophy – the greatest good for the greatest number of peoplegood for the greatest number of people

• Optimism – man is intrinsically (naturally) Optimism – man is intrinsically (naturally) goodgood

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• FreedomFreedom– of thought and expressionof thought and expression– Freedom to all men (battle against Freedom to all men (battle against

absolutism)absolutism)

• Legal reformsLegal reforms– No tortureNo torture– Due process of law (right to attorney, Due process of law (right to attorney,

habeas corpus, excessive punishments)habeas corpus, excessive punishments)

PhilosophesPhilosophes

• ““lovers of wisdom”lovers of wisdom”

• Students of society who analyzed its Students of society who analyzed its evils and advanced reformsevils and advanced reforms

• SalonsSalons – social gatherings where – social gatherings where philosophes, artists, writers, etc. philosophes, artists, writers, etc. would meet and exchange ideaswould meet and exchange ideas– Madame Geoffrin – most famousMadame Geoffrin – most famous

Madame Geoffrin’s SalonMadame Geoffrin’s Salon

Enlightenment ConceptsEnlightenment Concepts

• Natural lawsNatural laws – laws (like physical – laws (like physical laws) that govern human naturelaws) that govern human nature

• Natural rightsNatural rights – rights all men are – rights all men are born with (Locke – life, liberty and born with (Locke – life, liberty and property)property)

• Social contractSocial contract – agreement between – agreement between the people and the governmentthe people and the government