Agenda: The EnlightenmentUnit 2 Essential Questions:1. How did scientific discovery help to change political systems and ideas? 2. Can people be trusted to govern themselves or do they need a firm hand to

avoid chaos and keep them safe?

LEARNING TARGET: I can state the main ideas that united Enlightenment thinkers, define key terms, and by block day (Thursday/Friday) be prepared to impersonate an Enlightenment thinker in a press conference.

During the Lecture: • To get credit, write at least 1 question (short lecture), answers or comments on

line.

HW: None. HOWEVER, it’s not a bad idea to communicate with your fellow group members about ideas for the press conference activity on block day (Thursday/ Friday).

Intellectual Revolutionaries - Enlightenment Political Philosophers

John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Thomas Hobbes

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Mary Wollstonecraft

The Age of Reason

• The Enlightenment developed in part due to an energetic group of French thinkers who thrived in the middle of the 18th century.

• These thinkers are known as the philosophes.

• Their movement was called the Enlightenment b/c they saw themselves as spreading the light of reason and knowledge to conquer the darkness of ignorance and violence.

The philosophes were united by:

• A belief in the perfectibility of human beings. Logic and science are the key. Improving people = less violence and more progress.

• A fierce desire to prove myths false (i.e. superstitions like witches) and to question traditions (i.e. divine right of kings). “Because we’ve always done it this way” or “God made me king” or even “My dad was king, so you have to obey me” are illogical statements. Rulers have to prove they deserve to rule.

• Most philosophes criticized religion as divisive, irrational and violent. However, they weren’t atheists—many were deists.

• Deism: The belief that God created the universe, but doesn’t play an active role in human affairs. Deists focus on our lives on Earth (not the after-life) and focus on our power to make our own moral or evil decisions.

Deism• Religion has a positive role when

it inspires moral behavior in its followers. When it leads to ignorance and violence, it should be discarded.

• Science and politics should have nothing to do with religion.

• Religious leaders had too much power at the time. They should keep their focus on people’s spiritual needs and that’s it.

Progress• Developing a knowledge of the natural

world and the ability to manipulate the world through technology.

• Overcoming ignorance bred of superstitions and religions.

• Overcoming human cruelty and violence through social improvements & government structures.

How Enlightenment Ideas Spread

• Paris and the café scene. People of all classes could mix in a café. A poor man could argue with a nobleman and if his ideas were good, he could win the argument and not get punished for being “uppity.”

• The printing press and growing literacy. Education started to spread.

• The salons—Parties sponsored by wealthy aristocrats (usually women). They invited the top minds in Europe to socialize over drinks with top political leaders and discuss important issues. Wealthy women played a leading role in spreading these ideas.