The Enlightenment Thinkers

The Age of Reason

 The Enlightenment

 Scholars began to challenge long held beliefs

about science, religion, and government.
 Thinkers were inspired by Galileo and Newton.
 The method of observation and logic is used to
approach problems of human life.
 Ideas based on rational thought and
understanding.
 The Enlightenment
 In France, thinkers called philosophes (or
“philosophers”) would gather in informal meetings
called salons.

There, they would exchange and debate ideas.

 The Basic Questions

Enlightenment thinkers wanted to learn more about

human life using these questions:

1) What natural law governs the way people should live?

2) How well do our institutions agree with natural law?
3) Does natural law give all people certain rights?
4) What is the best form of government?
 Philosophers

 Philosophers did not

always agree about the
answers to these
questions.
 Some supported absolute
rule by the king.
 Others argued that the
They all shared a trust in reason and
people should have a say
observation as the best way of in their own government.
understanding and progress.
 The Five Thinkers
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke

Baron de Montesquieu

Voltaire
Cesare Beccaria
 Thomas Hobbes
 His Question: What is the basis
of social order?
 His Observation: Human beings
are naturally cruel, selfish, and
greedy.
 In 1651, he published a book
called Leviathan. He wrote that
people are driven by a restless
desire for power. Without laws
or other social controls, people
would always be in conflict.
Absolute Rule by Kings
 Thomas Hobbes

 Governments are created to protect people

from their own selfishness.
 People are selfish by nature and can’t be
trusted to make decisions that were good for
society as a whole.
 John Locke
 His Observation: He denied
the divine right of kings to
rule.
 In 1690, he published Two
Treatises of Government.
His book justified a strong
parliament which protects
human rights.
 He argues that the
purpose of government is
to protect people’s natural
rights.
Natural Rights  These rights include the
right to life, liberty, and
property.
 John Locke

 In exchange for rights, people give the government

the power to make and enforce laws.

 The true basis of government is a social contract (or

agreement), among free people.

 His theory is that a government’s authority is based

on the consent of the people. If the government fails
to respect people’s rights, it can be overthrown.
 Baron de Montesquieu
 His Observation: Too much
power in the hands of any
one person or group will
lead to tyranny.
 French author, in 1748, he
published The Spirit of
Laws.
 He argues that the best
way to protect human
rights is to divide power
among three branches of
government.
 Each branch of
government checks (limits)
the power of the others. Separation of Powers
 Baron de Montesquieu

 The Three Branches of Government

1) Legislative branch – makes the laws;
Congress
2) Executive branch – enforces the laws;
President
3) Judicial branch – interprets the laws;
Supreme Court
 Voltaire
 His Observation: Freedom
of thought and expression
is the only way to fight
oppression.
 He was a French writer
and participant in Paris
salons.
 He supported religious
tolerance – allowing
people to believe in
religion in their own way. “I disapprove of what you say,
 Strong supporter of free but I will defend to the death
your right to say it”.
speech.
 Cesare Beccaria
 His Observation: He studied
criminology, the scientific study
of crime and punishment.
 He objected to the harsh
practices that were common in
his day and called for changes
in criminal law to protect the
rights of the accused.
 Torture was common and
people found guilty of crimes
were often sentenced to death.

“Punishment should fit the

seriousness of the crime”.
 Cesare Beccaria

On Crimes and Punishments

 He argued that laws exist to preserve society and order and that
punishment does not have to be brutal.
 A person accused of a crime should receive a fair and speedy
trial.
 Torture should never be used.
 Capital punishment (putting someone to death) should never be
used.
 Punishment should fit the seriousness
of the crime.
 Women of the Enlightenment
 Enlightenment thinking
influenced many throughout
Europe and inspired revolutions in
America and France.
 Although women of the 1700s did
not have the same rights or status
as men, there were a small few Mary Wollstonecraft
who played an important role by Abigail
helping to spread ideas about Adams
rights and equality for women.
 Mary Wollstonecraft (1792),
wrote A Vindication of the Rights
of Women arguing for equality
and education rights for women.

Madame Geoffrin