The Enlightenment
What exciting conclusion did
philosophers reach during the
Enlightenment?
Reason could be used to solve all
human problems.
Thomas Hobbes
•English thinker, wrote views of government in
Leviathan
• Absolute monarchy best
• Believed people needed government to impose
order
–People selfish, greedy
–Should exchange some freedoms for peace,
safety, order
–Social contract
John Locke
•English philosopher, believed all people born
equal
•Government should protect people’s natural
rights
–Monarchs not chosen by God
–Government by consent
–Power limited by laws
–Ideas foundation for modern democracy
Wrote “Two Treatises on Government”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher, believed people basically
good
•Believed society corrupted people
•Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all
members of society
“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
•Believed government should work for
common good, not wealthy few
•Individuals should give up some freedoms
for benefit of community
•Despised inequality in society
•Views inspired revolutionaries in years to
come
Baron de Montesquieu
• Separation of powers
• Best form of government divided power
among branches of government
• Separation of powers kept individual or
group from abusing power
• The Spirit of the Laws
-Published 1748, showed admiration of
Great Britain’s government
Baron de Montesquieu
•Powers divided into branches:
legislative, executive, judicial
•Parliament made laws, king carried
out laws, courts interpreted laws
•Separation of powers allowed each
branch to check against power of
others
•Concept later important structure of
democratic governments
Some Enlightenment
philosophers focused on
government, others on issues in
society
Voltaire
•Francois-Marie Arouet, wrote as
Voltaire
•Outspoken philosopher, wrote
with biting wit
–Attacked injustice among
nobility, government, church
–Created enemies, imprisoned
twice
- Believed in religious toleration
and separation of church and
state
Voltaire
• –Exiled to England for two years
• –Defended principles, fought superstition,
ignorance
• –Lifelong struggle for justice, toleration,
liberty
Mary Wollstonecraft
•Enlightenment thinkers still held
traditional views about women
•Proper roles wives, mothers;
should receive limited education
•Wollstonecraft demanded equal
rights for women
•A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman, equal education for
women
Adam Smith
•Scottish economist, used reason to analyze
economic systems
•The Wealth of Nations advanced free
market enterprise
•Strong believer in laissez-faire economics,
no government regulation
•Believed economy would be stronger if
market forces of supply and demand
were allowed to work freely
Key Ideas of the
Enlightenment
• The ability to reason is what makes humans
unique
• Reason can be used to solve problems and
improve people’s lives
• Reason can free people from ignorance,
superstition, and unfair government
Key Ideas of the
Enlightenment
• The natural world can be governed by laws
that can be discovered through reason
• Like the natural world, human behavior is
governed by natural laws
• Governments should reflect natural laws
and encourage education and debate
Enlightenment Influence on
Politics
• philosophies fueled revolutions
•Inspired the Declaration of Independence
•Constitution and U.S. Bill of Rights also
incorporated Enlightenment ideas
Enlightened Monarchs
• The new political ideas also affected the
leadership of some eighteenth-century
European monarchs. The ideals of
tolerance, justice, and the improvement of
people’s lifestyle became guidelines for the
rulers known as Enlightened Monarchs,
such as Joseph II of Austria and Frederick II
of Prussia.
Enlightened Monarchs
• To be sure, they still ruled absolutely, but
they internalized the Enlightenment
philosophy and made attempts to tolerate
diversity, increased opportunity for serfs,
and take on the responsibilities that required
their rule.