The Enlightenment

Transition from the Scientific Revolution to new ideas in

Philosophy, Art,Economics,& Government

Effects of the Scientific RevolutionnDuring the Scientific Revolution,

people began to believe that the scientific method allowed them to find answers to their questions

nAs a result, new ideas began in areas outside of science: nEspecially criticizing absolute

monarchy and thinking of new ideas about government

What is the Enlightenment?nThe intellectuals of the Enlightenment

(called Philosophes) believed: –The universe could be understood

through reason–Everything in nature could be

explained by natural laws—universal truths found through observation (Religion is not necessary to understand the world)

What is the Enlightenment?–The belief in progress—the

world can be improved upon & perfected

–People have natural rights—personal freedoms that allow people to enjoy liberty (no restrictions on speech, religion, or the economy)

Political Thinkers of the Enlightenment

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

Thomas HobbesPeople cannot be trusted. Kings

should rule!

Thomas HobbesnHobbes believed humans are

naturally violent & disorderly; citizens need kings to protect them from themselves (like a father protects his children)

nHobbes believed that people form a social contract with the king & agree to give up their freedoms in exchange for the king’s protection

John LockePeople are good!

They have rights & should overthrow

the gov’t when kings abuse their power

John LockenLocke believed that all people

have natural rights (rights to life, liberty, & ownership of property)

nHe added to Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory saying that people can break the “contract”when a king become corrupt

nThe best government has limited powers & listens to the people

Who’s ideas are right?

HobbesnPeople are

selfish, self-serving, & brutal

nWithout government control, society would be chaotic

LockenPeople are

reasonable & able to make decisions

nPeople should be able to rule themselves

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Let’s make a government that

benefits the majority of people

Jean-Jacques RousseaunBelieved people are naturally

good, but power corrupts themnThe best form of government is

a direct democracy that promotes the common good of the majority

nPeople give up some of their individual rights to be ruled by the general will of the majority

What the majority wants, the majority gets

Like their choice if they disagree with the majority opinion

Compare the Thinkers: Do the Enlightenment Thinkers compare to the Philosophers? n John Locke

n Thomas Hobbes

n Jean-Jacques Rousseau

n Socrates

n Plato

n Aristotle

Read each page summary of the three Philosophes covered in classn Be sure to “Attack

the Text”n Answer the

questions on the back of each summary.

n You will be graded on how accurately you ”Attack the Text”

n Using your knowledge from the lecture and the text, in three paragraphs, determine how each philosopher would run CCLA. Who would rule and why? How would decisions be made and why? How would your campus be different if these men made the rules? What are the positives and negatives? Explain.

–Thomas Hobbes–John Locke–Rousseau