The Enlightenment

Politics & Philosophy

Bell RingerIn your notebooks, answer:

• What was the Enlightenment?• How did the SR impact the

Enlightenment?

Political Enlightenment

Three Themes in the Political Realm

1. Propertyo Central featureo Gives an individual a stake in society

2. Rightso Every individual is entitled to basic rights

simply because they exist3. Law

o That which makes 1 & 2 worko Guarantees property & rights

Political Philosophes

John Locke1632-1704

Most influential writing was “Two Treatises of Civil Government” written in 1690

Locke’s Philosophy• The individual must become a

“rational creature”• Virtue can be learned & practiced• Human beings possess free will

o They should be prepared for freedomo Obedience should be out of

conviction, not fear

Locke’s Philosophy (cont.)• Legislators owe their power to a

contract with the people• Neither kings nor wealth are divinely

ordained• There are certain natural rights that are

endowed by God to all human beingso Life, liberty, & property

• Favored a republic

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

Most influential writing was “Spirit of the Laws” written in 1748

“Countries are well-cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.”

Montesquieu’s Philosophy• Used England’s government as a

model for: • The separation of powers

• Executive Power = King • Legislative Power = Parliament• Judicial Power = Courts

• Checks & balances• Monarchs should be subject to

constitutional limits on their power

Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712-1778

Most influential writing was “The Social Contract” written in 1762

Rousseau’s Philosophy• Tabula Rasa (blank slate)• Best traits of human character are

products of nature• Society corrupts people, therefore,

we must fix society

Rousseau (cont.)• In The Social Contract:

o The right kind of political order could make people truly moral & free

o Individual moral freedom could be achieved only by learning to subject one’s individual interests to the “General Will”

Rousseau - Social Contract (cont.)

o Individuals could do this by entering into a social contract - not with their rulers, but with each otheroThis social contract was derived from human

nature -NOT from history, tradition, or the Bible

o People = most free & moral under a republican form of government with a direct democracy

Philosophical Enlightenment

Marquis de Condorcet1743-1794

Most influential writing: Progress of the Human Mind (1794)

Condorcet’s Philosophy• Expectation of universal happiness• Every individual guided by reason

could enjoy true independence• Advocated:

o Free & equal educationo Constitutionalismo Equal rights for women

Immanuel Kant1724-1804

Most influential work:Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

Kant’s Philosophy

• Investigated the structure & limitations of reason

• Believed he created a compromise between the empiricists and the rationalists (experience + reason = Enlightenment)

Denis Diderot1713-1784

Most influential writing:The Encyclopedia (1751)(coauthor: Jean le Rond

d’Alembert)

Diderot’s Encyclopédie• Complete cycle of

knowledge that changed the general way of thinking

• 28 volumes• Alphabetical, cross-

referenced, illustrated

Voltaire1694-1778

• François Marie Arouet

• Most famous book: Candide (1759)

• Known for sharp wit that was often critical of the church and state

Voltaire (cont.)• Wrote plays, novels,

poetry, essays, & letters

• Fierce defender of civil liberties, especially:o Religious freedomo Free tradeo Freedom of speech

• Spent time imprisoned in the Bastille

Voltaire (cont.)

• Life (video)• Last words

Homework

• Worksheet: Voltaire• Due next class period