What's the big idea?

The Enlightenment led was a philosophical and intelectual movement mostly concerned with the role and rights of the individual, society, and government. The ideas of the Enlightenment would be a main catalyst of many revolutions, such as the American & French revolutions.

What was the Enlightenment?

• Belief in the idea of "societal progress"

• Desire of political and social change

• Belief that reason could be used to build a better world for all

• Willingness to challange the "status quo"

The major beliefs of the Enlightenment can be structured around 5 major themes:

• Beliefs about REASON

• Beliefs about NATURE

• Beliefs about HAPPINESS

• Beliefs about PROGRESS

• Beliefs about LIBERTY

Beliefs about REASON

• Enlightenment thinkers believed the truth could be discovered through reason and logial thinkly

• They were directly opposed to empiricism

• Directly inspired by the Scientific Revolution

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Beliefs about NATURE

• Enlightenment thinkers believed that was was natural was also good and reasonable

• They believed people could apply logic to nature to uncover natural laws

• This led to the belief of NATURAL RIGHTS

Beliefs about HAPPINESS

• Enlightenment thinkers rejected the Medieval idea that people are destined to have a hard life but will find joy in Heaven

• They believed happiness is found on Earth and the government should promote the happiness of the citisens

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Beliefs about PROGRESS

• Just like science, Enlightenment thinkers believed government and society could be improved and perfected

• They were not happy with ideas like "Well, it's always been this way..."

Beliefs about LIBERTY

• Enlightenment thinkers believed that people are born with certain freedoms, called NATURAL RIGHTS, and the government should not be able to take them away

• John Locke coined the term "natural rights," and defined them as "life, health, liberty or possessions."

5 Enlightenment Philosophers

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rosseau

• Montesquiei

• Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes, England, 1588-1679

• Wrote a book called "The Leviathan"

• Argued that people are selfish & greedy by nature, so the average person should not have a say in government

• Said an ABSOLUTE MONARCH was the best system of government to avoud chaos

• His beleifs were used to justify monarch's right to rule

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Jonn Lock, Enland, 1632-1704

• Wrote "Two Treatesies of Government"

• Had the ideas that a government's power comes from the consent of the people

• Said the purpose of government is to protect people's NATURAL RIGHTS

• Also said that governments need limits or they will become abusive

• Stated that people have to right to overthrow their government if it fails to protect their natural rights

Jean-Jacques Rosseau, 1712-1788, Switzerland/France

• Wrote "the Social Contract"

• Believed that society is naturally corrupt

• Stated that people must be taught to put the community before themsleves (the group is more important than the individual)

• Belived the best type of government was a DIRECT DEOMCRACY (people vote directly on leaders in public elections)

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Montesquieu, 1689-1755, France

• Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu

• Wrote "The Spirit of the Laws"

• Believed in a "seperation of power" to prevent one group of the goernment from having too puch power

• His beliefs are the BASIS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

Voltaire (aka Francois-Marie Arouet), 1694-1778, France

• Belieed an "ENLIGHTENED DESPOT" is needed to guide people & protect their natural rights

• Had the idea that a well qualified king is better than an elected "commoner"

• Belived that noone was immune to "improvement through reason"

• Stressed the rights of the individual (Freedom of Speech, Religion, etc.)

• His beliefs about individual liberties are the BASIS OF THE U.S. BILL OF RIGHTS