THE ENLIGHTENMENT
(1650-1800)
How the Scientific Revolution helped inspire the
Age of Reason
RESULTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
 Political

Results:
Science weakened the Church’s influence on the
people & GOV.
 Religious

Results:
Belief in only religious explanations to life
decreased.
RESULTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
 Political

Results:
Science weakened the Church’s influence on the
people & GOV.
 Religious

Belief in only religious explanations to life
decreased.
 Cultural

Results:
Results:
People believed Reason & Logic could solve all
problems for humanity.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
1. Scientists in the Scientific Revolution made
popular the use of…

Reason & logic to analyze everything around them.
 Over
time, scientists began to wonder if they
could…
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
1. Scientists in the Scientific Revolution made
popular the use of…

Reason & logic to analyze everything around them.
 Over
time, scientists began to wonder if they
could…



Analyze human nature & society.
Scientists, who began to call themselves
philosophers, eagerly & optimistically studied such
subjects as society, politics, & economics.
This new time of optimism & study of society was
called...
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
1. Scientists in the Scientific Revolution made
popular the use of…

Reason & logic to analyze everything around them.
 Over
time, scientists began to wonder if they
could…



Analyze human nature & society.
Scientists, who began to call themselves
philosophers, eagerly & optimistically studied such
subjects as society, politics, & economics.
This new time of optimism & study of society was
called The Enlightenment.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
2. The Enlightenment has often been described as
a…

Time when people used reason & logic to analyze
human society, progress, & rights.
 The
Enlightenment resulted in…
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
2. The Enlightenment has often been described as
a…

Time when people used reason & logic to analyze
human society, progress, & rights.
 The

Enlightenment resulted in…
New philosophies of representative GOV, social
contracts, rights, & Capitalism.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
2. The Enlightenment has often been described as
a…

Time when people used reason & logic to analyze
human society, progress, & rights.
 The


Enlightenment resulted in…
New philosophies of representative GOV, social
contracts, rights, & Capitalism.
The belief that reason can end human ignorance &
oppression.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
2. The Enlightenment has often been described as
a…

Time when people used reason & logic to analyze
human society, progress, & rights.
 The



Enlightenment resulted in…
New philosophies of representative GOV, social
contracts, rights, & Capitalism.
The belief that reason can end human ignorance &
oppression.
The idea that GOV should reflect the will of the
people & improve their lives.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
3. Enlightenment philosophers wanted to…


Develop new ideas that would change society
for the better w/o much violence.
Philosophers challenged many of the long held
“absolute truths” of the day, such as…
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
3. Enlightenment philosophers wanted to…


Develop new ideas that would change society
for the better w/o much violence.
Philosophers challenged many of the long held
“absolute truths” of the day, such as…
GOV’s should only be monarchies.
 People are born cruel & should be controlled.
 People cannot be trusted w/ freedom or power.
 What classes believed in these “absolute truths”?
 What classes would benefit from breaking w/
these “absolute truths”?

FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
4. The principle ideology that encompassed
these long held “absolute truths’ about society
was called Absolutism.

Political system where a single ruler has absolute
power w/ no challenges to his authority.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
4. The principle ideology that encompassed
these long held “absolute truths’ about society
was called Absolutism.


Political system where a single ruler has absolute
power w/ no challenges to his authority.
Absolute Monarchs wielded supreme control over
the GOV, economy, & people.
The GOV enforced the King’s decisions.
 The Economy gave the King wealth, power, & influence.
 The People built the King’s palaces, paid the King’s taxes,
& fought the King’s war, but yet received no role in GOV or
any civil rights.

FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Louis XIV of France
Palace at Versailles
Story Time!
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
5. Enlightenment philosophers developed three
principles that ran contrary to the ideas of
Absolutism:
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Constitutionalism.

Belief that an executive’s power should be
limited by a legislature.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Constitutionalism.
Belief that an executive’s power should be
limited by a legislature.
 Many philosophers believed a constitution
would check the power of Absolute Monarchs.

FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Constitutionalism.
Belief that an executive’s power should be
limited by a legislature.
 Many philosophers believed a constitution
would check the power of Absolute Monarchs.


Liberalism.

Belief that people should have more freedom &
power in GOV & the economy.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Constitutionalism.
Belief that an executive’s power should be
limited by a legislature.
 Many philosophers believed a constitution
would check the power of Absolute Monarchs.


Liberalism.
Belief that people should have more freedom &
power in GOV & the economy.
 W/ Liberalism, people gain power via rights
that takes power away from the GOV.

FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Constitutionalism.
Belief that an executive’s power should be
limited by a legislature.
 Many philosophers believed a constitution
would check the power of Absolute Monarchs.


Liberalism.
Belief that people should have more freedom &
power in GOV & the economy.
 W/ Liberalism, people gain power via rights
that takes power away from the GOV.
 This also means people had less GOV
interference in their personal & business lives.

FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Rationalism.

Belief that GOV should make decisions that
benefits society within reason.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Rationalism.
Belief that GOV should make decisions that
benefits society within reason.
 To be rational means you do not rely on
superstition, religion, or greed to make
important decisions.


Absolute Monarchs will not be rational because
they only thought of benefiting themselves
through their rule as opposed to the people & the
country.
FROM REVOLUTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT
6. It is through these three ideas that
Enlightenment philosophers believed …
People would reject poverty, ignorance, &
inequality.
 Reformers & revolutionaries would change
society through peaceful & violent means.

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS G.O.
 Use
Pg. 182-186 in your book to complete the
graphic organizer about Enlightenment
philosophers & their theories.
 You will have 30 minutes to complete your
task quietly & by yourself. We will go over it
to make sure you understand the information.