WH - The Enlightenment

Impact of the Enlightenment

1) It inspired revolutions in America, France, and Haiti to change the system; 2) There was belief in social and human progress including the abolition of slavery, promoting education, and social equality; 3) The secular outlook in Europe changed with the promotion of religious tolerance, openly questioning religious beliefs, and science challenging religion teachings; 4) The Importance of the Individual where people can now judge right and wrong for themselves; the rise of capitalism, and support for democracy.

Women and the Enlightenment

Enlightenment thinkers maintained traditional ideas toward women. Educated women challenged these ideas using Enlightenment arguments. Mary Wollstonecraft was the leading female philosopher. In time, beliefs developed that women need education to be virtuous and useful and that women have the right to participate in politics.

Thomas Hobbes

Hobbes (bb=bad boy) thought people were naturally bad, inherently selfish. Believed people were so bad that they needed the government to be strong to keep people in line. This strong government would be a monarchy. Monarchs liked Hobbes's ideas. His idea of the "Social Contract" is that people are willing to give up some of their personal rights in return for living in a society with strong law and order and no (less) chaos that a strong monarchy offers.

John Locke

Locke supported an individual's natural rights (that they are born with) of life, liberty, and property. People consent to be governed as long as the government secures these rights for its citizens. If the government takes these rights away, then the people have the right to rebel against (and change) the government (elect new leaders).

Baron de Montesquieu

Montesquieu challenged the idea of 'absolute monarchy' with the idea of separation of powers. He believed that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government all had different powers and they exercised checks and balances on each other so that no one branch became too powerful. (For example, a president vetoing a law Congress passes is an executive check on the legislative; the Judicial Branch can veto laws that are against the Constitution and deem a law unconstitutional if it goes against the Constitution)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau believed humans are basically good by nature but are corrupted by society, especially the unequal distribution of property. He believed civilization destroyed freedom and equality. He felt (since humans are basically good by nature) that society placed too many limitations on people's behaviors. Rousseau put his faith in the "general will" or best conscience of the people. The good of the community as a whole needs to be placed above individual interests.

What were the basic principles of the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that advocated reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. It's basic principles were: 1) Reason - truth through logical reasoning; 2) Nature - nature is good, natural laws of politics and economics; 3) Happiness - live by nature's laws and you will find happiness; 4) Progress: belief that society and humankind could be perfected; and 5) Liberty: belief that society should be set free.

Voltaire

Voltaire was perhaps the most brilliant Enlightenment philosopher. He frequently targeted the clergy, aristocracy, and government. His main beliefs were freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and tolerance. He attacked intolerance, prejudice, and superstition. "I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it"