Warm Up
• 1. What was the main idea of Plato?
• What was the main idea of Aristotle?
• Describe society as it existed in the Age of
Absolutism.
Test Review
• King John was a bad king. The people
made him sign the Magna Carta.
• What are rights?
• How do you get your rights?
• How do you think people came up with the
idea of rights?
The Enlightenment
What is it?
• It happened in Europe
• In happened in the 18th Century (1700s).
• Emphasized reason over faith and
superstition
• Started a new way of thinking about the
rights of humans.
Setting the Stage
• In the 1600s Europe is ruled by absolute monarchs.
• Absolute monarchs do whatever they want.
• Rich live in splendor
• Everybody else is generally living bad
• Things are not fair; there are different rights for
different classes of people.
• How do people get rich and poor?
French Palace of Versailles
Nobles
• Nobles are rich people who have titles like:
Duke, Lord, & Earl.
• They own lots of land.
• They don’t work.
• Get to advise the Monarch and vote.
• They are rich but usually pay no taxes.
The Clergy
• Church Officials.
• Are very powerful.
• Own lots of land.
• Supported by Kings and Queens,
• Usually don’t have to pay taxes.
Various Clergy
The Poor
• Most people were poor peasants.
• They usually worked as farmers.
• They lived in poor conditions and had to
pay a lot of taxes.
• Don’t get to vote or participate in Govt.
Church’s Support the Ancient
Regime
• Most European churches—Catholic and
Protestant (Christian)—are supported by the
monarchs of each country.
• Churches get special rights and don’t have to
pay taxes.
• In return, churches tell people to support
monarchs and accept how things are.
• The Church is also the authority on explaining
the universe, etc.
Scientific Revolution
• During the 1500s and 1600s, scientists
made new breakthroughs that helped
explain the universe and the world.
• Copernicus —Heliocentric theory of
universe.
• Kepler—planets travel in elliptical orbits.
• Galileo—Astronomy (planets are
imperfect).
• These discoveries often angered the
Catholic Church because they
contradicted their teachings.
• .
Isaac Newton
• English Mathematician
• Newton’s studies on
gravity led to an
understanding of motion
in the universe.
• Led to the idea of
universal laws that
explained how everything
worked.
Influence of the Scientific
Revolution
• Since there are universal rules that explain
the universe, through reason, people could
arrive at natural laws that governed society.
• If one uses reason, one can figure out how to
improve society.
• Based on Locke’s assumptions on human
understanding.
Stop
• How do people know the difference
between right and wrong?
• Why are people racist?
• What does Locke say?
• Do you agree?
Warm Up
• What was the scientific revolution?
• How did the scientific revolution lead to
new ways of thinking about humans and
society?
• Explain John Locke’s theory on human
understanding.
Locke’s New Assumptions on
Human Nature and
Understanding
• Humans—regardless of time and place—
are essentially rational.
• Understanding comes from experience
and rational analysis.
• Thus, if properly enlightened, one should
arrive at what is right.
What was the Enlightenment?
• An intellectual movement in the 18th
century that sought to improve society by
emphasizing reason and “natural rights”
(over faith and superstition) .
• Also called “The Age of Reason”.
• Is about applying reason to improve
society (the environment) and thus
improve human behavior.
Natural Rights
• Enlightenment thinkers believe that everybody
has “natural rights.”
• Natural rights = Rights as human beings
• Ex = life, liberty, and property.
• Enlightenment thinkers say that these are rights
that governments can’t give or take away.
Review
• How did the Scientific revolution lead to
the Enlightenment?
• What did John Locke believe about human
understanding?
• Explain the idea of natural rights.
• How did figures of the Enlightenment
believe the could improve society?
The Enlightenment Begins
• Primarily in Western Europe.
• A lot in France.
• Printing Press plays a role.
The Enlightenment in France
• Take part in “Salons.”
Parlors of wealthy
women who invite
people over to
discuss the
Enlightenment ideas.
• In France,
Enlightenment
thinkers are called
“Philosophes.”
Deism
• Most Enlightenment figures are deists.
• Belief in God, but not in religion
• God is a “watchmaker.”
• Most Enlightenment figures are against
churches.
Warm Up
• What was the Enlightenment?
• Where did it primarily take place?
• What role did women play in the
Enlightenment?
• What are “natural rights”?
• What was the French word for the
Enlightenment Thinkers?
• Explain Deism.
The Encyclopedia
• Denis Diderot
• Created the first
Encyclopedia.
During the Enlightenment
• People began to think that government
and society should be changed to make
people’s lives better.