II. The Enlightenment in Europe
The influence of the Scientific Revolution soon
spread beyond the world of science.
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People began to look for laws governing human
behavior as well
They hoped to apply reason & the scientific method to
all aspects of society—gov’t, religion, economics, and
education.
In this way, the ideas of the Scientific Revolution
paved the way for a new movement called the
Enlightenment or “Age of Reason”.
Two Views on
Government
The Enlightenment started from
some key ideas put forth by two
English political thinkers of the 1600’s—
Thomas Hobbes & John Locke.
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Both men Experienced the political
turmoil of the English Civil War early
in that century.
However, they came to very
different conclusions about gov’t
and human nature.
1. Hobbe’s Social Contract
In his book, Leviathan (1651),
the horrors of the English Civil
War convinced him that all
people were naturally selfish &
wicked.
He argued that to escape such
a bleak life, people gave up
their rights to a strong ruler,
and in exchange they rec’d law
& order.
He called this agreement, by
which people created the gov’t,
the social contract.
Thomas Hobbes
2. Locke’s Natural Rights
John Locke argued that
Government could only be
legitimate if it received the consent
of the governed, and if it protected
the natural rights of life, liberty,
and property.
The purpose of gov’t was to protect
these rights
If such a consent was not achieved,
or if the gov’t failed to protect these
rights, Locke argued in favor of the
right of rebellion.
His ideas had a deep influence on
modern political thinking—most of
these are the bases of modern
democracy.
B. Philosophes Advocate Reason
The Enlightenment reached its height in
France in the mid-1700’s. Paris became the
meeting place for people who wanted to
discuss politics and ideas.
The social critics of this period in France were
known as philosophes—French word for
philosophers.
They believed that
people could apply
reason to all aspects of
life
B. Philosophes Advocate Reason
(cont.)
Five important concepts formed the core of their
philosophy:
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Reason: believed that truth could be discovered
through logical thinking.
Nature: to them, what was natural was also good &
reasonable. Such as natural laws of economics or
politics.
Happiness: a person who lived by nature’s laws
would find happiness.
Progress: were first Europeans to believe in progress
for society.
Liberty: b/c of restrictions on speech, religion, trade,
and personal travel they believed that society should
be set free.
1. Voltaire Combats Intolerance
Probably the most brilliant
and influential of the philosophes
was Francois Marie Arouet.
Using the pen name Voltaire, he
published more than 70 books of
political essays, philosophy,
history, fiction, and drama.
Although he made powerful enemies (including the
clergy, aristocracy and monarch), and had been
exiled and put in prison several times, he never
stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of
religious belief, and freedom of speech.
2.Montesquieu & Separation of
Powers
Baron de Montesquieu was another
influential French thinker who devoted
himself to the study of political liberty.
He concluded that Rome’s collapse was directly
related to its loss of political liberties.
Like Voltaire, Montesquieu believed that Britain was
the best-governed country of his own day. He
thought this was a govt, in which power was
balanced among 3 groups of officials—The King,
Parliament, and the English judges.
He called this division of power among different
branches separation of powers.
3. Rousseau: Champion
Jean Jacques Rousseau: Strange,
of Freedom
brilliant, and controversial, he
disagreed with many other
philosophes.
Argued that civilization corrupted
peoples’ natural goodness, and the
strongest people forced everyone
else to obey unjust laws—thus
freedom & equality were destroyed.
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Government should be formed freely by
the people—a direct democracy.
Argued that nobility be abolished
His idea of the social contract differed
from Hobbes’—his was an agreement
among free individuals to create a
society and a govt.
Ideas inspired leaders of French
Revolution in 1789.
4. Beccaria Promotes
Criminal Justice
An Italian philosophe, Cesare
Bonesana Beccaria turned his
thoughts to justice system.
He believed that laws existed to preserve social
order, not to avenge crimes.
On Crimes and Punishments (1764), he railed
against common abuses of justice.
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He argued that a person accused of a crime should receive
a speedy trial, and that torture should never be used.
He also believed that capital punishment (the death
penalty) should be abolished.
C. Women & the
Enlightenment Mary Wollstonecraft (17591797)
Considered the first
feminist, who tried to
change the traditional
view towards women.
Discussed the importance
of educating women and
improving their status in
society.
Wrote A Vindication of the
Rights of Woman
D. Impact of the Enlightenment
Founding Fathers of
the United States
Enlightenment writers
challenged long-held ideas
about society.
They examined such principles
as divine right of kings, union of
church & state, and unequal
social classes.
They held the traditional beliefs
up to the light of reason and
found them unreasonable.
Their theories inspired the
American & French Revolutions
and other movements in the
1800’s
III. Spread of Enlightenment Ideas
The Philosophes’ views often got them into
trouble.
In France, it was illegal to criticize the Catholic
Church or the government.
Many philosophes landed in jail or were exiled.
Voltaire, for example, experienced both
punishments.
Nevertheless, Enlightenment ideas spread
throughout Europe.
Spread of Enlightenment Ideas
Social gatherings in Paris called salons
attracted philosophers, writers, artists, scientists
and other great intellects.
Denis Diderot compiled a large set of books he
called an Encyclopedia, to bring together all the
most current & enlightened thinking about
science, technology, art, gov’t, and more.
The Enlightenment eventually reaches the
middle class through, pamphlets, newspapers
and even political songs
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With their money, the middle-class people could
afford to buy many books and support works of
artists.
B. Art & Literature in the
Enlightenment
Enlightenment ideals of order and reason
were reflected in the arts—music,
literature, painting & architecture.
European art of 1600-1700’s was
dominated by the style called baroque–a
grand, ornate style. Versailles (below) is
an example of baroque architecture.
B. Art & Literature in the Age of
Reason
Music was characterized by dramatic organ
and choral music.
New style of the late 1700’s was called
neoclassical (“new classical”).
 In music, the style is called classical (Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig von
Beethoven )
The novel becomes popular in writing,
especially with a wide middle-class audience.
Beethoven
Mozart - http://viewpure.com/o1FSN8_pp_o,
http://viewpure.com/Yomi0-WL5Pg
Beethoven - http://viewpure.com/4Tr0otuiQuU,
http://viewpure.com/8uPGz7NU-mk
Mozart
C. Enlightenment & Monarchy
Enlightenment spirit also spread through royal
courts.
Some monarchs embraced the new ideas and
made reforms…they were known as
enlightened despots—despot means absolute
ruler.
Frederick the Great of Prussia, Joseph II of
Austria and Catherine the Great of Russia, all
granted new religious freedoms, improved
education, legal reforms, some freedoms of the
press and speech, and expanded their territory.
All expanded at the expense of Poland. Between
1772-95, Poland was slowly partitioned among
these 3 countries until it actually disappeared
from the map.
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Poland would not reappear again until after the end of
WWI in 1918.