The Enlightenment

• The use of reason

• Emphasis on order and logic

• Dedicated to tolerance and freedom

• Benefited from a new, dynamic international discussion among intellectuals

Origins of the Enlightenment

• The rational spirit born in Ancient Greece

• The Stoic philosophy of the Romans

• The Christian belief that all individuals are equal in the eyes of God

• The Renaissance spirit of Humanism

• The English traditions of political liberties

• The Scientific Revolution

Enlightenment writers and their ideas

• John Locke, 1632-1704

John Locke 1632-1704 • 1) All men are free and equal at birth.• 2) Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the

ownership of property.• 3) Citizens have the right to overthrow the

government when their “natural rights” are violated.

• 4) Rulers are given the right to govern by the people, and unfair rulers can be forced from power.

• 5) Man is not born a good or evil person; he becomes one or the other according to his life experiences and the environment in which he lives.

• Francois Marie Arouet -Voltaire, 1694-1778

Voltaire 1694-1778

• 1) All men should be treated as equals, and should have freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

• 2) An intelligent person should not accept all religious beliefs. We should only accept those beliefs about God that are based on reason and common sense.

• 3) Religious myths and ceremonies do nothing to make men better, and therefore should be ignored.

• 4) Clergymen are more interested in adding to the power of the Church than they are in making man better.

• 5) A scientist is a greater person than a conquering general.

• 6) Democracy is not a good form of government because the common people are not capable of governing themselves. The best government is one headed by a good and fair king.

• Baron de Montesquieu, 1689-1755

Montesquieu 1689-1 755

• 1) An absolute ruler is an undesirable leader because one-man rule limits such basic rights as freedom of speech, press, and religion.

• 2) There should be a “separation of powers” in government between legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• 3) Slavery, torture, religious persecution, and censorship are all wrong.

• 4) A man is innocent until a jury finds him guilty. • 5) When one country increases its military

power, so do other countries. Therefore, all nations should limit their military forces in order to reduce the threat of war.

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778

Rousseau 1712-1778

• 1) It is unfair that some people are rich while others are poor.

• 2) The rich should not enjoy special privileges from the government.

• 3) Compared to man during the Stone Age, modern man is unhappy, insecure, & greedy.

• 4) Social and political reforms must be made before man can be a good person.

• 5) Democracy is a desirable form of government.

John Locke 1632-1704 • 1) All men are free and equal at birth.• 2) Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the

ownership of property.• 3) Citizens have the right to overthrow the

government when their “natural rights” are violated.

• 4) Rulers are given the right to govern by the people, and unfair rulers can be forced from power.

• 5) Man is not born a good or evil person; he becomes one or the other according to his life experiences and the environment in which he lives.

Voltaire 1694-1778

• 1) All men should be treated as equals, and should have freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

• 2) An intelligent person should not accept all religious beliefs. We should only accept those beliefs about God that are based on reason and common sense.

• 3) Religious myths and ceremonies do nothing to make men better, and therefore should be ignored.

• 4) Clergymen are more interested in adding to the power of the Church than they are in making man better.

• 5) A scientist is a greater person than a conquering general.

• 6) Democracy is not a good form of government because the common people are not capable of governing themselves. The best government is one headed by a good and fair king.

Montesquieu 1689-1 755

• 1) An absolute ruler is an undesirable leader because one-man rule limits such basic rights as freedom of speech, press, and religion.

• 2) There should be a “separation of powers” in government between legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• 3) Slavery, torture, religious persecution, and censorship are all wrong.

• 4) A man is innocent until a jury finds him guilty. • 5) When one country increases its military

power, so do other countries. Therefore, all nations should limit their military forces in order to reduce the threat of war.

Rousseau 1712-1778

• 1) It is unfair that some people are rich while others are poor.

• 2) The rich should not enjoy special privileges from the government.

• 3) Compared to man during the Stone Age, modern man is unhappy, insecure, & greedy.

• 4) Social and political reforms must be made before man can be a good person.

• 5) Democracy is a desirable form of government.

Important ideas…

• Contractual government

• Limited royal power

• Checks and balances

• The General Will

• Social equality

• Humanitarianism

Failure of the Enlightenment

• The use of pure reason did not take into account some inescapable elements of human behavior such as:

• Emotions

• Desires

• Passion

• Appetites

• Willpower

In addition…

How did this new, public, secular culture begin to spread?

• Freedom of the press in England and the Dutch Republic- newspapers and journals

• Freedom of assembly throughout Europe- coffee houses, salons, Masonic lodges, and scientific academies

• Common agreement that Christianity defied logic and common sense – miracles and original sin