The Age of ReasonThe Age of Enlightenment

EnlightenmentApplied REASON to the study of the natural world

Used reason to solve problems

Human behavior governed by natural laws

Largest intellectual movement since the Renaissance

Apply reason to human life:PoliticsReligionArts

PoliticsThomas Hobbes

John Locke

Montesquieu

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes

All humans are naturally selfish and wicked

Need government to maintain order

People give up rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order = social contract

Favored an absolute monarchy

LeviathanThe state must have central authority to

manage behavior and prevent chaos

John Locke

All people are born free and have equal rights to life, liberty and property

Government is to protect these rights – IF government fails to do so – citizens have the right to overthrow that government

Two Treatises on GovernmentPeople are sovereign (or are able to make

their own decisions)Monarchs are not chosen by God

Opposing ViewsHobbes

Absolute monarchy

People need governmentPeople are selfish

and greedyFreedoms for

peace, safety and order

SOCIAL CONTRACT

LockeGovernment protect

natural rightsMonarchs NOT

chosen by GodGovernment by

consentPower limited by

lawsFoundation for

MODERN DEMOCRACY

MontesquieuAristocrat and lawyer

Separation of powers

The Spirit of LawsThe best form of government includes

a separation of powers.

“Power should be a check to power”Checks and balances

Influence on the US Government – three branches of government

Jean Jacques RousseauArgued civilization corrupted

people’s natural goodness

The Social ContractGovernment is a contract

between rulers and the people. Also a contract between the

majority and the minority in society (majority rule)

Rousseau thought people should use reason, but not forget about love, emotion, and feelings.

Direct democracy

“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains”

VoltaireArgued that equality was impossible

Used satire (poking fun at real life issues)

Attacked injustice among nobility, government, and churchSeparation of Church and State

Fought for economic, political, and religious tolerance

Denis DiderotWould bring together all

the most current enlightenment thinking about science, technology, art and government, etc.

Church and French government banned the encyclopedia

Educated people all over Europe

Effects on Politics/SocietyIncrease in public discussion of politics

and societySALONS – gatherings of writers, artists,

and educated people to discuss the philosophies of the day in the homes of wealthy peopleOrganized and ran by upper class

women Spread ideas of the EnlightenmentParis = intellectual center of the

Enlightenment

Impact of the EnlightenmentChanged ideas on:

Nationalism (people should be able to choose self-rule)

DemocracyAmerican and French RevolutionsDeclaration of IndependenceUS Constitution and Bill of Rights

More secularBelief in progressRise of individualism

Use own ability to reason

How did philosophers apply reason to issues in

society???

Effects on the ArtsThe Enlightenment also influenced the Arts – music, literature, painting and architecture

LiteratureEuropeans began writing

novels

Miguel de CervantesHis novel Don Quixote

was a political statement on the downfall of the ruling Hapsburg family of Spain

Art & MusicBaroque-grand, ornate style

Dominated European art during 1600s-1700s

Elaborate palaces (EX: Versailles)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Baroque composer Dramatic organ and choral music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: classical composer Wrote operas: The Marriage of Figaro,

The Magic Flute, and Don Giovanni

Neoclassical-”new classical” Elegant style from Greece and Rome

Art & MusicGrouped similar

instruments together = modern orchestra

Music appreciated by itself outside of the theater or religious services

Painting

• Reason mixed with fantasy

• Art shows that rational thinking can control irrational emotions

• Romanticism • Politics brought

into artEugene Delacroix – Painter “Liberty Leading the People”