Roots of the Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinkers wanted to examine human life in the light of reason. Rational understanding,
they felt, would lead to great progress in government and society. These thinkers believed they were
making a major break with the past. Like everyone, however, they were influenced by what had come
before them. In this section, we will first examine the roots of the Enlightenment. Then we will consider
ways in which the new ideas of the Enlightenment clashed with old beliefs.
The Scientific Revolution Enlightenment thinking grew out of the Scientific Revolution. In science,
observation and reason were revealing natural laws that applied throughout the physical world. The
thinkers of the Enlightenment wanted to apply this approach to human life and experience. They asked
questions such as: Are there natural laws that tell us how to live? How well do our current institutions
follow natural laws? Do natural laws give all people certain rights? What is the best form of government
Philosophers did not always agree about the answers to these questions. What they all shared was a
way of thinking about them. Like scientists, they placed their trust in reason and observation as the best
sources of understanding and progress.
The Renaissance and the Reformation The Enlightenment also had roots in the Renaissance and the
Reformation. The humanists of the Renaissance questioned accepted beliefs. They celebrated the
dignity and worth of the individual. During the Reformation, Protestants rebelled against the Catholic
Church. They put individual conscience ahead of religious tradition and authority. Enlightenment
thinkers went even further in rejecting authority and upholding the freedom of individuals to think for
themselves.
Classical and Christian Influences Like the humanists of the Renaissance, many Enlightenment thinkers
were inspired by classical culture. Trust in reason, for example, goes all the way back to the ancient
Greeks. So does the idea that people should have a voice in their government. Philosophers who argued
for this idea could point to the democracy of ancient Athens or to the republic of ancient Rome.
Christian ideas also influenced Enlightenment thinking. Enlightenment philosophers preferred rational
thought to faith based on the Bible. Yet most of them continued to believe in God. They saw the laws of
nature as the work of an intelligent Creator. They saw human progress as a sign of God’s
goodness. Often, their approach to moral problems reflected Christian values, such as respect for others
and for a moral law.
New Ideas Versus Old Beliefs The thinkers of the Enlightenment prized reason over authority. They
questioned foundations of religion, morality, and government. Everything, they said, must be reexamined in the light of reason. This outlook led to many clashes with accepted beliefs and the ruling
powers who upheld them. Christian faith, for example, was based largely on trust in the Bible as God’s
word. Enlightenment thinkers believed that humans were perfectly able to discover truth for
themselves. Some of them even questioned the existence of God. Others sought a “natural religion”
based on reason. To these thinkers, the order in the universe was proof enough of an intelligent
Creator. They believed that there was no need to base belief in God on revelations in holy
books. Similarly, they maintained that ideas about right and wrong should be based on rational insight,
not on the teachings of religious authorities. Enlightenment thinkers also criticized accepted ideas about
government. Some questioned the long-held belief that God gave monarchs the right to rule. Many
insisted that governments must respect individual rights. Toward the end of the 18th century, these
ideas played a major role in revolutions in both America and France.
1. How are the ideas of the Scientific Revolution similar to the ideas of the Enlightenment?
2. In what ways did the Renaissance and the Reformation influence the Enlightenment?
3. Why did most Enlightenment philosophers continue to believe in God?
4. The new ideas of the Enlightenment clashed with some previously held beliefs about religion,
morality, and government. Read the old beliefs shown on the table below. Then write in the
new ideas that developed during the Enlightenment
Old Belief
Christian faith was based largely on trust in the
Bible as God’s word.
Ideas about right and wrong were based on
religious teachings .
King had a divine right to rule
New Idea
OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS: THOMAS HOBBES & JOHN LOCKE
Read the four quotations, the first two concerning each philosopher’s views on human nature. The second
two quotations concern each philosopher’s views of the duties of government. After reading, answer the
questions on the reverse side of the paper.
QUOTATION A
QUOTATION B
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) on human nature:
John Locke (1632-1704) on human nature:
“In [a state of nature], there is no knowledge
“To understand political power right we must
of the face of the Earth, no account of time,
consider, what state all men are naturally in,
no arts, no letters, no society, and which is
and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order
worst of all, continual fear, and danger of
their actions … as they think fit, within the
violent death. And the life of man [is] solitary,
bounds of the law of nature, without asking
poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
leave, or depending upon the will of any other
man.”
-
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651
- John Locke, Two Treatises on Government, 1690
QUOTATION C
QUOTATION D
Thomas Hobbes on the duties of government:
John Locke on the duties of government:
“It belongs therefore to the Sovereign to
“The state of nature has a law of nature to govern
prescribe the Rules of discerning Good and
it: no one ought to harm another in his life, health,
Evil and therefore in him is the Legislative
liberty, or possessions. [Government] may not
Power.”
take away, or impair the life, the liberty, health,
limb, or goods of another.”
-
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651
- John Locke, Two Treatises on Government, 1690
Answer the following questions based on your reading of the four quotations in complete sentences.
1) How does Hobbes describe the life of men in a natural setting?
2) What does the above answer say about the behavior and characteristics of humans when they are
removed from society’s influences? (Think about behavior of people when no one is looking.)
3) Who does Locke say are responsible for the actions of humans? What are humans limited by?
4) What does the above answer say about the behavior and characteristics of humans when they are
removed from society’s influences? (Think about behavior of people when no one is looking.)
5) Who, according to Hobbes, should make and enforce the laws? Why that person?
6) Which philosopher’s viewpoint would be used as justification for monarchy? Explain your choice.
7) What does Locke say are natural rights that governments should not be allowed to take away?
If a government was violating these rights, what course of action do you think Locke would suggest the
citizens take?
LIFE ON THE ISLAND OF ERUTAN
Scenario:
THE UNTHINKABLE HAS HAPPENED!!!! Today robots have risen up against humans and are
trying to take over the world! An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) sent out by Skynet is causing machines to
turn against their humans. It turns out that the evil Skynet has had this machine revolution planned for
years. Government issued missiles have been fired, our economy is in ruin, and there is no more
internet. Soon humanity will be at the mercy of Skynet.
Fortunately, the day of the outbreak, you and 119 other people were able to obtain passage on
a cruise ship to a secure island in the South Pacific. However, the ship breaks down en route and is
unable to continue its voyage to the secure island. The ship makes an emergency stop some 200 miles
from the secure destination.
From your view from the shoreline, heavy jungle is the backdrop after 300 feet of sand. Behind
the jungle, a tall, long-dormant volcano sticks up. On this new island, you have found previously
unknown fruits and vegetables. The climate of the island is warm, but not unbearable. You have also
found some evidence of some large wildlife predators. While the island appears to be uninhabited by
humans, there is evidence on the beach of human conflict. A few broken spears and arrows line the
shore. It appears that the local inhabitants were wiped out following a warlike conflict. Perhaps the
remaining war survivors fled the island, or perhaps they perished, what is certain is that there are no
humans on this island.
You and the other surviving members find yourselves stranded on this island, with no
communication equipment and no mode of transportation.
For Discussion:
1) What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the situation in which you find
yourselves?
2) What would you do personally on the first day on this island?
3) As more time passed on the island, how would your behavior change? Would you have to get
food? What else would you need to survive on this island?
4) Given your understanding of human nature and how humans behave in groups, what are some
problems that are likely to arise in this situation?
Handout 2:
Analyzing Life on the Island of Erutan
Instructions: Read the problems in the left column, then answer, for each scenario, the questions posed in
the middle and right-most columns.
Problem
A vicious, wild predator attacked
a young child while you all were
sleeping.
One small source of fresh water
has been located in the jungle.
Food and water supplies leftover
from the ship are extremely
limited.
The source of fresh water is
located deep in the jungle. It is
extremely difficult to access. A
cleared pathway would make it
easier to access.
Competition for caves as the
ideal shelters has pushed
survivors to the brink of
violence.
One survivor is accusing another
survivor of stealing her Swiss
army knife.
One group of survivors is being
accused of treating the situation
like a vacation. The group is
being accused of doing no work.
This situation has created a
bitter divide in the entire camp.
At which purpose of
government does this problem
refer?
What power might a
government need to deal with
this problem?
Handout 4
Assessment
Directions: Based on the activity and other handouts, answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. What powers does the government have to solve the wild predator situation from Handout 2?
2. How did the survivors react when competing for caves and other resources from Handout 2?
3. How are these actions of the survivors a reflection of Thomas Hobbes’ theory on humans in a natural
setting?
4. What powers would the government need on this island? Explain why each power is needed or how each
power would be used.
5. What form of government would be best to establish on the island? Explain your opinion. Is the form of
government you established based on the social contract?
6. What rights and responsibilities do you have as a citizen of the island? What responsibilities does the
government have?
7. Would Hobbes and/or Locke agree with the government you have chosen for question 6? Explain why or
why not. Circle Hobbes or Locke, depending on who you answer for.