Overview
This lecture covers the Enlightenment, an 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and reform, profoundly influencing government, society, and later revolutions.
Setting the Stage for Enlightenment
- The Enlightenment was sparked by the Scientific Revolution, leading scholars to question traditional ideas about government, religion, economics, and education.
- It was known as the Age of Reason and peaked in mid-1700s Europe.
Two Views on Government: Hobbes and Locke
- Thomas Hobbes believed humans are naturally selfish and need an absolute monarch to maintain order (social contract).
- John Locke argued people are reasonable, with natural rights to life, liberty, and property; government should protect these rights and be overthrown if it fails.
The Philosophes and Core Ideas
- Enlightenment thinkers, or philosophes, believed in applying reason to all of life.
- Their core beliefs included reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty.
- Voltaire advocated religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and equality before the law, favoring enlightened monarchy over democracy.
Montesquieu and Separation of Powers
- Montesquieu believed power should be divided among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny (separation of powers, checks and balances).
- His ideas influenced the US Constitution.
Rousseau’s Direct Democracy
- Jean Jacques Rousseau supported individual freedom and direct democracy, believing civilization corrupts natural goodness.
- Argued government should be formed by the people and guided by the general will.
Beccaria and Criminal Justice Reform
- Cesare Beccaria argued laws should preserve order, not avenge crimes.
- Supported fair, speedy trials, no torture, and punishments proportional to crimes; opposed death penalty.
Women and the Enlightenment
- Many philosophes held traditional views on women; education for women was limited.
- Mary Wollstonecraft argued for women's education and participation in medicine and politics.
- Salons and writers like Mary Astell helped advance Enlightenment ideas for women.
Legacy of the Enlightenment
- Challenged the divine right of monarchs, church authority, and class inequality.
- Inspired political revolutions and reforms in Europe and America.
- Led to belief in progress, secular outlooks, and individualism, influencing political and economic theory.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Enlightenment — An intellectual movement stressing reason and individual rights.
- Social contract — Agreement where people give up freedoms for order.
- John Locke — Philosopher supporting natural rights and government by the people.
- Philosophe — French Enlightenment thinkers promoting reason.
- Voltaire — Philosophe advocating for free speech, religious tolerance, and justice.
- Montesquieu — Philosophe who developed the idea of separation of powers.
- Rousseau — Philosophe who supported direct democracy and general will.
- Mary Wollstonecraft — Writer advocating for women's education and equality.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare an oral report on a modern social critic and their beliefs/methods.
- Review documents reflecting Enlightenment ideas such as the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution.
- Compare and contrast the ideas of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau for written assignment.