Age of Enlightenment 1/28/2015 1

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1 Age of Enlightenment 1/28/2015 1

2 Enlightenment was also called the Age of Reason, the period of Western history (1700 s) when thinkers called for the use of reason in analyzing and improving society. 1/28/2015 2

3 Renaissance artists and writers adopted a more secular outlook on life rather than the spiritual outlook of the Middle Ages. The ideas of the Scientific Revolution created scientific philosophies for seeking the truth. Both of these ideas are the basis of the Enlightenment. 1/28/2015 3

4 Social contract A term created by Thomas Hobbes to describe an agreement where people give up their individual rights in exchange for the law and order provided by the government. Thomas Hobbes of England advocated this philosophy in his book Leviathan. people accept a common superior power for protection 1/28/2015 4

5 Natural rights According to John Locke, there are three natural rights that all human beings are entitled to; life, liberty, and property. His idea of a social contract was an agreement between people and government. The purpose of Government is to protect these God Given Rights if a government fails to protect the people s rights, the people have the right to rebel These ideas helped to frame the Declaration of Independence and began the American Revolution 1/28/2015 5

6 Montesquieu Barón de Biografia de Montesquieu urged the separation of powers-the division of authority among different branches of government. He believed that Britain was the best-governed country in his day. 1/28/2015 6

7 Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed in the ideas of a direct democracy where the will of the majority becomes law. He wrote Social Contract which stated, Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains. 1/28/2015 7

8 Philosophe Philosophe refers to any of the leading social critics of the 18th century French Enlightenment. They opposed the traditions of monarchy and divine right. They objected to special privileges of the nobility and clergy, like owning most of the wealth while paying little or nothing in taxes. 1/28/2015 8

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10 At the heart of their philosophies were five ideas: Reason- the absence of intolerance, bigotry, or prejudice in one s thinking. Nature- natural laws of economics and politics as well as natural laws of motion. Happiness- a person who lived by nature s law would find happiness. Progress-believed in progress for society and felt society could be perfected through the use of the scientific approach. Liberty-through reason, society would be set free. 1/28/

11 Voltaire Voltaire -championed free speech- I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it. He wrote Candide. 1/28/

12 Salon During the Enlightenment, a social gathering where writers, philosophes, and artists met regularly to discuss these new ideas was called a salon. One of the most influential of the salon hostesses was Marie-Thérèse Geoffrin. Every Monday and Wednesday, the foremost artists, writers, and scientists of Paris assembled in her drawing room to discuss their ideas and share their thoughts 1/28/

13 Marie-Thérèse Geoffrin s Salon 1/28/

14 Another famous woman was Mary Wollstonecraft who published an essay called A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. She disagreed with Rousseau that womens education should be secondary to mens. She urged women to enter the male-dominated fields of medicine and politics. 1/28/

15 Denis Diderot Diderot imagined a set of large books to which all the leading scholars of Europe would contribute articles and essays. This Encyclopedia would bring together all the most current and enlightened thinking about technology, science, mathematics and more. Diderot labored for 20 years to complete his project. The first volume of the set was published in 1751 and distributed to 1,431 subscribers. 1/28/

16 capitalism economic system father of capitalism: Adam Smith ( ) promoted a free market system with little government interference (laissez faire) Smith s three natural laws of economics: the law of self-interest the law of competition the law of supply and demand

17 The Enlightenment was a time for thinking about the happiness of humanity. They felt that people could only be truly happy in a society that allowed economic, religious and political liberty. 1/28/

18 Enlightened despot An enlightened despot is a European ruler who introduced reforms reflecting the spirit of the Enlightenment. 1/28/

19 Frederick II Frederick II of Prussia was known as Frederick the Great, he called himself the first servant of the state. From the beginning of his reign, he made it clear that his goal was to serve and strengthen his country. 1/28/

20 Catherine Catherine the Great of Russia dedicated herself totally to Russia s welfare. 1/28/