history-enlightenment Flashcards
What was the enlightenment
The age of reason
A revolution in thinking
Grew out of scientific revolution
When was the enlightenment
1700-1800
Impact of the enlightenment
People used logic and reasoning instead of religion, tradition, and superstition
Began to apply reason to all aspects of life
Gave individuals power to solve problems
Natural law
Rules discoverable by reason
Philosophes
Enlightened thinkers (French for “philosophers “)
Social critics
Believed the power of reason could fix all of society’s problems
Where did the Enlightenment begin
France
Natural rights
Life liberty property
social contract
An agreement by which people create government
State of nature
Absence of laws or government
John Locke
Philosophe with an optimistic view of human nature
JL
view of people
Reasonable and moral
Can learn from their mistakes
Can govern their own affairs
Born with natural rights that government can’t take away
JL
What do you have to do to keep your rights? To have them taken away?
To protect rights, respect others rights
Your rights end when you interfere with another persons rights
JL
why can’t people remain in state of nature?
Rights are in jeopardy in state of nature
JL
Why do we create governments
To protect our natural rights we enter into a social contract
JL
what type of government is best
Government with limited power (limited government)
JL
What can people do if a government fails them
Overthrow government
JL
Writing
Two Treatises of Government
Thomas Hobbes
Philosophe
Opposite views of Locke
TH
View of people
Ppl are naturally cruel greedy selfish and wicked
Would fight rob and oppress one another if not controlled
TH
How are people’s lives In the state of nature
Solitary poor nasty brutish and short
TH
What’s his social contract
To escape the horrible life in state of nature, must hand over rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order
TH
What’s government is best
Absolute monarchy - only powerful government would give an orderly society- ruler needs total control to keep citizens under control
TH
What’s the purpose of government
To keep law and order
TH
What will happen if people don’t obey the absolute monarch
Chaos will ensue (no right to overthrow government)
TH
Writing
Leviathan (a sea monster)
Baron de Montesquieu
Believed in rights of individuals
Concerned with political liberty
M
Main ideas
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
M
Best way to protect liberty?
Divide govt into 3 branches (separation of powers)
M
What are the three branches and what do they do
Legislative -makes the laws
Executive -enforces laws
Judicial- interprets laws
M
Checks and balances
Each branch can serve as a check on the other two
M
Influenced the…
Us constitution
M
Writing
The Spirit of Laws
Voltaire
Main beliefs
Freedom of speech, of the press, of religious belief
Liberty
Tolerance
Reason
V
Who did he target and what’d he use against them
The clergy, aristocracy and government by using satire against them
V
Consequences of his beliefs
French government and Catholic Church were offended
His books are banned and burned
Imprisoned twice in Bastille
Exiled in England for two years
Cesare Beccaria
Concerned with justic system
Laws are to preserve social order not avenge crimes
CB
What rights do the accused have
Speedy trial
No torture
Punishment that fits the crime
CB
What should be abolished
Capital punishment
CB
Writing
On Crimes and Punishments
Denis Diderot
Wanted to change the general way of thinking
DD
What did he edit
Encyclopedia (28-volume set of books)
DD
What did the encyclopedia contain and what happened bc of it
Included articles of leading philosophes of the day
Banned bc of it
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
People are naturally good so they should rely on instinct and emotion not logic
JJR
How did he feel about society
Evils of society corrupts people’s innocence and limits people’s behavior
JJR
Government that will solve problem
Govt that comes from the consent of the people
Freely elected
Minimal controls
Right to rule rests with ppl
JJR
His social contract
People agree to give up some of their freedoms to help the common good (good of community is more important than individual interests)
JJR
What happens to those that oppose the general will
Forced to accept it or removed form society
JJR
Writing
The Social Contract
Who influenced the DofR and how
John Locke because : All ppl created equal Life liberty and property as god given rights Ppl create govt to protect their rights Govt power comes from consent of ppl Ppl can overthrow govt
Who influenced constitution and how
Montesquieu because:
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
What 4 people influenced the BofR
Locke
Beccaria
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Salons
Informal social gathering where people exchange ideas
Hosted by wealthy women and held in their homes
Mary Wollstonecraft
Women’s first duty is to be a mother, but she should be able to do what she wants without depending on her husband
MW
Main point
Equal education for women (so they can participate equally in society)
MW
Writing
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Laissez-Faire economics
Free trade with little to no govt interference
Adam Smith
Supported laissez-faire
Free market should be allowed
Supply and demand
