The Enlightenment in Europe Chapter 6 2 Enlightenment

The Enlightenment in Europe Chapter 6. 2

Enlightenment • A revolution in intellectual activity changes Europeans’ view of government and society

Views on Government • Europeans seek insights into society during the 1600’s and 1700’s • Leads to the Enlightenment - a movement stressing reason and thought

Philosophes Advocates Reason • The philosophes are French social critics in the mid-1700 s • Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty

Hobbes’s Social Contract • Hobbes distrusts humans, favors strong government to keep order • Promotes social contract – getting order by giving power to monarch

Locke’s Natural Rights • Philosopher John Locke says government gets power from the people • Stresses that the people have the right to overthrow an unjust government • Unalienable rights (Natural Rights) • Life, Liberty, and Property

Voltaire • Voltaire – influential philosophe, pen name of Francois Marie Arouet • Publishes many work arguing for tolerance, reason • Makes powerful enemies and is imprisoned twice for his views

Montesquieu • French writer who admires Britain’s government system • Favors separation of powers to keep one body from running government

Rousseau • Philosophe who favors individual freedom, direct democracy • Views social contract as agreement by free people to form government

Beccaria • Italian philosopher Cesare Beccaria works to reform justice system • Against torture of prisoners • Calls for speedy trails, greater rights for criminal defendants

Mary Wollstonecraft • Urges greater rights for women • Argues that women need education to be virtuous and useful

Mary Wollstonecraft • Urges women to go into traditionally male professions like politics • Some wealthy women use their status to spread enlightenment ideas

Legacy • Philosophes are not activists, but inspire others to begin major revolutions • Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society

Legacy • Secular outlook – new ideas question religious ideas • Many people openly question beliefs and practices of Christianity

Importance of the Individual • People place more importance on individual rights and abilities • Reason becomes central concept for philosophers and rulers