Section 6-2

The Enlightenment in Europe

Setting the StageBecause of the new ways of thinking that

were prompted by the Scientific Revolution, scholars began to reevaluate old notions about other aspects of society

The EnlightenmentA new intellectual movement that stressed

reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems

Government, education, religion, and, economics were all aspects of society that scholars sought to change

Thomas Hobbeswrote LeviathanSaid that man was

inherently evil and they needed a strong government to maintain peace

The trade off of individual rights in exchange for law and order is called the Social Contract

John LockeBelieved that people

could learn from experience and improve themselves

Said that all people were born with 3 natural rights (life, liberty, and property)

The government’s job is to protect these rights

The Philosophes

Social critics in FranceBelieved that reason could be applied to

all aspects of life

Core Beliefs Five concepts formed the core of their beliefs

Reason-truth through reasonNature-natural was goodHappiness-seek well being in this lifeProgress-society can improveLiberty-called for liberties for the people

VoltairePhilosophe who used satire to target

aristocrats, religious leaders, and the government

Believed in tolerance, reason, freedom of speech and religious beliefs

Baron de MontesquieuCreated the ideas of separation of powers

in governmentHe thought that this would keep any one

branch of government from gaining too much power

Rousseau and BeccariaJean J. Rousseau-advocated individual freedom,

he said that the government should be formed by free thinking people

Cesare Beccaria-advocated changes in the Judicial system (right to speedy trial, end to torture, cruel punishments, punishment fit the crime.

Mary WollstonecraftSaid that women deserved equal educationWrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

in which she disagreed with many male scholars on the issue of women’s education

Challenged Principles Enlightenment thinkers challenged such

things as divine right, the union of church and state, and the existence of unequal social classess

Legacy of the EnlightenmentLong term effects

A belief in progress led to discoveries in all aspects of society

Society and the world were viewed in a more secular or non-religious outlook

Brought about the rise of individualism-belief that one can depend on themselves and not the church or nobels