ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS
AND
GOVERNMENT
“MAN IS BORN FREE,
BUT EVERYWHERE IS IN CHAINS.”
Relevant Questions:
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Are people born good or bad?
Are all people born equal?
What is government?
Why do societies have governments?
What is the purpose of government?
Who has the right to power in society?
Thomas Hobbes
1588-1679
- English philosopher
- Wrote Leviathan
WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE WOULD
CONSTANTLY BE FIGHTING AMONGST
THEMSELVES
LIFE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT WOULD BE
“POOR, NASTY, BRUTISH, AND SHORT.”
Thomas Hobbes
(continued)
THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO
ENSURE PEACE AND SECURITY
THROUGH WHATEVER MEANS
NECESSARY.
GOVERNMENT IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN
CITIZENS AND THEIR RULER. IN THIS
CONTRACT, CITIZENS GIVE UP SOME
RIGHTS FOR THE GUARANTEE OF PEACE
AND SECURITY.
Thomas Hobbes
(continued)
THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS ONE IN WHICH THE
RULER HAS ABSOLUTE POWER.
PEOPLE NEVER HAVE THE RIGHT TO REBEL.
“LEISURE IS THE MOTHER OF PHILOSOPHY.”
GOVERNMENT: ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
STATE OF NATURE: “LIFE OF MAN: SOLITARY,
POOR, NASTY, BRUTISH AND SHORT.”
JOHN LOCKE
1632-1704
- English philosopher
- Wrote Two Treatises on
Government
GOVERNMENT IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN CITIZENS
AND THEIR RULERS. SOCIAL CONTRACT.
THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS:
1. TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY,
AND PROPERTY
2. TO CREATE ORDER IN SOCIETY
JOHN LOCKE
(continued)
CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REBEL AGAINST A
GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT RESPECT THE
RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS.
RULERS SHOULD STAY IN POWER ONLY AS LONG AS
THEY HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE THEY
GOVERN.
“LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY.”
GOVERNMENT: REPUBLIC, BUT IF IT IS BAD THE
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ABOLISH
IT.
STATE OF NATURE: PEOPLE ARE NATURALLY GOOD
AND HAPPY.
JOHN LOCKE
(continued)
TABULA ROSA: “BLANK SLATE”
THE MIND IS CLEAR OF IDEAS AND BELIEFS AT BIRTH
THE MIND IS MOLDED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AND
EXPERIENCES
EACH EXPERIENCE SHAPES WHO AN INDIVIDUAL
BECOMES
BY CHANGING ONE’S ENVIRONMENT AND EXPERIENCE,
AN
INDIVIDUAL CAN BE SHAPED INTO A DIFFERENT
PERSON
LEARNING: SOCIETY IMPRESSED IDEAS ON A “BLANK
SLATE”
Baron De Montesquieu
1689-1755
- French philosopher
- Wrote Spirit of the Laws
TYRANNY CAN BE AVOIDED BY DIVIDING AND
SHARING POLITICAL POWER AMONG A
DIVERSITY OF CLASSES AND GROUPS
Baron De Montesquieu
(continue)
TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF POWER IT IS
NECESSARY TO SEPARATE THE POWER OF
GOVERNMENT INTO:
1. LEGISLATIVE: MAKE THE LAWS
2. EXECUTIVE: ENFORCE THE LAWS
3. JUDICIARY: INTERPRET THE LAWS
“LAW IN GENERAL IS HUMAN REASON.”
GOVERNMENT: SEPARATION OF POWERS
STATE OF NATURE: “PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY
GOOD BUT NEED THE LAW.”
Francois Voltaire
1694-1778
- French philosopher
- Wrote Candide and
Letters on the English
WOMEN SHOULD BE TREATED WELL BUT THEY ARE
NOT EQUAL TO MEN
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IS MOST IMPORTANT:
“I DISAPPROVE OF WHAT YOU SAY, BUT DEFEND TO
THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.”
Francois Voltaire
(continued)
GOVERNMENT: A LIMITED, CONSTITUTIONAL
MONARCHY
STATE OF NATURE: PEOPLE ARE NOT
PERFECT BUT HAVE AN INNATE
GOODNESS; THE ENVIRONMENT SHAPES
BEHAVIOR.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
1712-1778
- Swiss philosopher
- Wrote Social Contract
ALTHOUGH BORN GOOD, PEOPLE ARE CORRUPTED BY
SOCIETY.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE A CONTRACT BETWEEN
PEOPLE, NOT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND A RULER.
PEOPLE SHOULD GIVE UP SOME FREEDOM IN FAVOR
OF THE MAJORITY’S DECISION.
JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU
(CONTINUED)
PEOPLE ARE EQUAL AND HAVE A RIGHT TO
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
WOMEN SHOULD BE EDUCATED TO BE GOOD
MOTHERS
“MAN IS BORN FREE, BUT EVERYWHERE IS IN
CHAINS.”
GOVERNMENT: REPUBLIC, BUT IF IT IS BAD, THE
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE IT.
 GENERAL WILL
JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU
(CONTINUED)
STATE OF NATURE: ROUSSEAU STARTS OUT
SAYING THAT HE FEELS MAN IS EQUAL, GOOD,
FREE (LIKE LOCKE) IN A STATE OF NATURE, BUT
THEN HE SWITCHES TO HOBBES’ IDEA THAT MAN
IS BAD.
“NOBLE SAVAGE”
- HUMANS ARE BASICALLY GOOD
- EVIL IS THE RESULT OF CIVILIZATION
- RESPECT NATURAL THINGS (NOT TAINTED BY
CIVILIZATION)
- QUESTION THINGS THAT ARE MAN-MADE
NEW ECONOMIC THINKING
•  THINKERS CALLED PHYSIOCRATS FOCUSED ON
ECONOMIC REFORMS
•  LIKE THE PHILOSOPHES, PHYSIOCRATS LOOKED
FOR NATURAL LAWS TO DEFINE A RATIONAL
ECONOMIC SYSTEM
•  PHYSIOCRATS REJECTED MERCANTILISM IN FAVOR
OF A POLICY CALLED LAISSEZ FAIRE (“HANDS OFF”)
- MERCANTILISM: GOVERNMENT OF A STATE IS
ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE ECONOMY OF THE
STATE THROUGH REGULATIONS, INCLUDING
TAXES/TARIFFS
•  LAISSEZ FAIRE MEANS ALLOWING BUSINESSES TO
RUN WITH LITTLE OR NO GOVERNMENT
INTERFERENCE
Adam Smith
1723-1790
- Scottish philosopher
- Wrote The Wealth of Nations
ARGUED THAT THE FREE MARKET SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO REGULATE BUSINESS ACTIVITY
SUPPORTED LAISSEZ FAIRE, BUT ALSO BELIEVED
THAT A GOVERNMENT HAD A DUTY TO PROTECT
SOCIETY, ADMINISTER JUSTICE, AND PROVIDE
PUBLIC WORKS
Adam Smith
(continued)
•  THE “INVISIBLE HAND”
"Every individual necessarily labors to render the
annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He
generally indeed neither intends to promote the public
interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. He
intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in
many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote
an end which was no part of his intention. By pursuing
his own interest he frequently promotes that of the
society more effectually than when he really intends to
promote it. I have never known much good done by
those who affected to trade for the public
good.” (Wealth of Nations).
Enlightenment Thinkers of the
American Revolution
•  THOMAS PAINE:
“HE THAT WOULD MAKE HIS OWN
LIBERTY SECURE MUST GUARD EVEN
HIS ENEMY FROM OPPRESSION; FOR IF
HE VIOLATES THIS DUTY HE
ESTABLISHES A PRECEDENT THAT WILL
REACH TO HIMSELF.”
Enlightenment Thinkers of the
American Revolution
•  BENJAMIN FRANKLIN:
“THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP
ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO PURCHASE A
LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY, DESERVE
NEITHER LIBERTY OR SAFETY.”
Enlightenment Thinkers of the
American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues (from Poor Richard’s Almanac)
- virtue: moral excellence; valued as promoting individual and
collective well-being
1)  Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2)  Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part
of your business have its time.
3)  Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform
without fail what you resolve.
4)  Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or
yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
5)  Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries
so much as you think they deserve.
Enlightenment Thinkers of the
American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues
6)
Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in
something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7)  Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes,
or habitation.
8)  Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents
common or unavoidable.
9)  Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or
yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
10)  Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and
justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Enlightenment Thinkers of the
American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues
11)  Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benefits that are your duty.
12)  Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring,
never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or
another's peace or reputation.
13)  Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
More on the American Enlightenment…
THE AMERICAN ENLIGHTENMENT WAS
CHARACTERIZED NOT ONLY BY KNOWLEDGE OF
CLASSICAL WRITINGS, BUT ALSO AN ATMOSPHERE
WHERE PEOPLE CRAVED NEW IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE,
AND WISDOM.
IT WAS THAT CRAVING THAT LED INSPIRED PEOPLE
TO MAKE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE,
RELIGION, AND POLITICS.
THE AMERICAN ENLIGHTENMENT LED TO AMERICA’S
INDEPENDENCE AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE
GOVERNMENT AMERICA HAS TODAY.
THROUGH ENLIGHTENMENT IDEALS, PEOPLE BEGAN
TO THINK THAT A RULER HAD TO BE HELD TO
HIGHER LAWS.