The Enlightenment Notes

What did Enlightenment thinkers or philosophes do?

Re-examined all aspects of society- from government and justice to religion and women's right.

The Enlightenment focused on the use of?

Reason

First Principal:

"I think, therefore i am" (focused on his own mind)

Second Principal:

"The mind cannot be doubted but the body and material world can, the two must be radically different." (the separation of mind and matter/body.)

What impact did John Locke have on the Founding Fathers?

-Government was necessary to promote the public good- protect property, encourage commerce and little else.... "Govern little" -Natural rights must be secured! -The consent of the governed

What did Thomas Hobbes believe about the State of Nature?

-Humans are guided by self- preservation not morals -The state of nature is a state of war -The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short

What did John Locke believe about the State of Nature?

-Men exist in the state of nature in perfect equality and freedom to do what they want. -Natural rights and natural law govern the state of nature (life, liberty, health and property)- given to them by god. -The state of nature is not necessarily good or bad- it is a chaotic and corrupting, but mostly peaceful. People's morals.

What did John Locke believe about the government and representation?

-Representation ensures the governments are responsive to the people- the *the consent of the govern* is necessary -Representation is a safeguard against tyranny.

What did Thomas Hobbes believe about the purpose of government?

-To impose law and order to prevent the state of war -Absolute monarchy (people agreed to be governed by absolute ruler who have unlimited power to suppress chaos and rebellion) -The state was the "great leviathan to which we owe our peace and defense."

What did John Locke believe about the purpose of government?

-To secure natural rights -Representative democracy (people found it difficult to protect their natural rights- so they create government to ensure their natural rights are protected) -"The end of the law is not to be abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom..... Where there is no law, there is no freedom." -Both had very different views on what the role of government should be

. Both post-English Revolution philosophers were particularly concerned with what three things:

1.MAN (humans) in their STATE OF NATURE 2.What is the PURPOSE of GOVERNMENT 3.How should the GOVERNMENT represent the PEOPLE?

Who was Thomas Hobbes?

English philosopher, best known for his book "leviathan." how does society deals with the problem of disorder and chaos?-structure of government, human nature.

Who was John Locke?

English philosopher. Known for his book "two treatises on government."- argued against absolute rule. Influences of the founding father. Smaller government more power for the people

What did Thomas Hobbes believe about the government and representation?

Governments are designed to control, not necessarily represent the people.

What impact did Thomas Hobbes have on the Founding Fathers?

Governments must be designed to protect people from infringing on each other's rights.

How did Decartes approach to the truth differ from others at that time?

He questioned the source of everything. He thought of things are the way they are. He question himself first before he question small details that led to bigger ideas.

What is a State of Nature?

Is a hypothetical condition that preceded society, civil government and structure- think a deserted island.

What was the main idea behind Rene Decartes writing?

Scientists came to believe that REASON is the main source of knowledge.

What is enlightenment?

The Age of reason

Rene Descartes was known as:

The Father of modern Rationalism

The Age of reason

Was a movement that impacted the entire western world. 17th and 18th century. Cultural, social, intellectual and scientific movement

Rene Descartes focused on the idea that?

__doubt___ and _uncertainty______ were everywhere. (doubt his own existence)

New views of the ____universe, earth_______ and __astronomy____ influenced new views of?

_human_____ and ____society__

What was the big picture of the enlightenment?

applying the scientific method to their physical world. Re-examined all aspects of society- from government and justice to religion and women's right.

Consent of the govern....

means a government's use of power is justified and can only be legitimate if the PEOPLE give their consent to be governed