HISTORY 10

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONo Time Period 1500-1800

o The Scientific Revolution was the period of time where scientific discoveries were changing the way society viewed life.

o As more was learned about scientific fact and medicine, people began to question the existing world view:

Religion.

THE WORLD VIEW: RELIGIONo Organized religion gave the

explanation that God/Allah/Buddha, etc., created the Earth. Most biblical scholars put the beginning of earth at about 8,000bce.

o Science was proving evolution – that the world and humans evolved over millions of years.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS

o The microscope – allowed scientist to see cells and molecules…led to discoveries in archaeology and evolution.

o The telescope – proving that earth revolved around the sun.

o Often these new scientists’ were attacked and charged by the major religions for speaking against God. As well, they were also discredited by scholars who had built their careers by supporting religious and traditional explanations of science

THE LAW OF GRAVITY

o Sir Isaac Newton – Devises a mathematic formula explaining that there is a force of attraction between objects that increase as objects move closer together. The moons gravitational pull to the earth results in oceans tides. The suns gravity keeps planets in line.

o How has this scientific revolution affected the social contract? What good can come out of an era

when the political leaders trust is questioned by their citizens?

THE ENLIGHTENMENT

o What gave rise to what many historians now regard as the birth of the modern middle class in Europe is debated to be the result of numerous factors.

o Within Europe, the birth and rapid spread of the coffeehouse gave rise to an open public space for people to meet and discuss issues of common concern.

o This was the first time in which social interactions between non-elites became commonplace in Europe.

MARTIN LUTHERo While Martin Luther may have

been the first true Enlightened Thinker, he was simply repulsed by the actions done in the name of the Lord.

o However, a new breed of thinkers were emerging in Europe and finding methods to get their ideas for government and society published…without getting killed! The Enlightenment

o After years of scientific breakthroughs that challenged traditional beliefs, society started to increase their calls for an end to Feudalism.

TAKING THE BLINDERS OFF

o After years of scientific breakthroughs that challenged traditional beliefs, the philosophers and writers of that era started encouraging people to focus on

1. their rights and power,

2. the role of government (being for the benefit of the people),

3. the use of logic and fact instead of believing what the monarchies and religions tell you.

ENLIGHTENED PHILOSOPHY EXPLODESo The philosophers and writers of

that era started encouraging people to become literate and demand their natural rights are granted by their leaders.

o The Philosophes started to write about political alternatives to Feudalism.

o Many Philosophes were exiled and had their books burned, but their message was beginning to gain momentum in Europe. Writers and citizens throughout Europe began demanding a change.

ENLIGHTENED MONARCHSo Rulers of Europe who agreed

with the new findings of the scientific revolution and the enlightenment.

o Certain laws were made that reflect enlightenment beliefs: Limits on amount of unpaid work. Freedom of the press Banned the use of torture Religious toleration Encouraged education at a young age Beginnings of separation between

Church and State

Catherine the Great

ENLIGHTENMENT CREATED

o Theory of Evolution – Society drifts from believing in God’s creation of the world to a world and universe that has developed over millions of year.

o The enlightenment creates a new generation of citizens who begin to question their monarchies and religions.

o How did the enlightenment affect the social contract?

o What would be the different perspectives of conservative and liberals about the Enlightenment period?

KEY ENLIGHTENMENT PRINCIPLES

o * Equality

o * Democracy

o * Freedom of Speech

o * End of Torture

o * Religious Toleration

o * Public Education

o * End of slavery

o * Property and Ownership Rights

o * Separation of Church and State

A WHO’S WHO OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Niccolò Machiavelli Thomas Hobbes John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Voltaire Jean Jacques Rousseau

NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469 – 1527)

o His most famous work was “The Prince”

o Machiavelli glorifies instrumentality in statebuilding

o An approach embodied by the saying that "the ends justify the means."

o Violence may be necessary for the successful stabilization of power and introduction of new legal institutions.

o Force may be used to eliminate political rivals, to coerce resistant populations, and to purge the community of other men strong enough of character to rule

o Machiavelli has become infamous for such political advice, ensuring that he would be remembered in history through the adjective, "Machiavellian."

THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

o A philosopher and political theorist whose 1651 treatise Leviathan effectively kicked off the English Enlightenment.

o The controversial Leviathan detailed Hobbes’s theory that all humans are inherently self-driven and evil and that the best form of government is thus a single, all-powerful monarch to keep everything in order. (We have discussed him numerous times…..may be good to know)

JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)

o An English political theorist who focused on the structure of governments. Locke believed that men are all rational and capable people but must compromise some of their beliefs in the interest of forming a government for the people.

o In his famous Two Treatises of Government (1690), he championed the idea of a representative government that would best serve all constituents.

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU (1689-1755)

o One of the foremost French political thinkers of the Enlightenment, whose most influential book, The Spirit of Laws, expanded John Locke’s political study and incorporated the ideas of a division of state and separation of powers.

o He believed that absolute Monarchies had led to serious neglect of the citizens of Europe, especially in France. 

o Montesquieu helped shape the American government and the British/Canadian Parliamentary democracy with the idea of having:

3 SEPARATE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

o Montesquieu helped create

1) Legislative - Elected representatives elect laws.

2) Executive - Elected representatives hirer employees to carry out the laws passed in the legislature.

3) Judicial - Our court system is overseen by well-paid, impartial judges

o Why is it important to have courts/judges that are independent of government control?

VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)

o A French writer and the primary satirist, who criticized religion and leading philosophies of the time.

o Voltaire used wit as his weapon and targeted corrupt officials, lazy aristocrats, inequality, injustice, and superstition.

o He detested the slave trade and religious prejudice. "My trade is to say what I think." "I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your

right to say it."

o What freedom is Voltaire arguing for in these two quotes?

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712-1778)

o Grew up poor and was not as sophisticated as other enlightenment writers.

o He felt people were naturally good, but their innocence was corrupted by the evils of society, mainly the division of wealth and power...the peasants had none of either.

o Clearly, the French King in 1726 was not a fan of Rousseau's, so he had Rousseau exiled to England.

o Rousseau’s epic The Social Contract (1762) conceived of a system of direct democracy in which all citizens contribute to an overarching “General Will” that serves everyone at once.

o General Will became of fictional figure that stood for democracy.

o 'General Will' was the conscience of the people that will shine through if the people are allowed to have democracy.