Atlantic Unit 5 Key Terms

Enlightenment

An intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, characterized by a shift toward reason, logic, and scientific methodology as the primary sources of authority rather than tradition or religious dogma. rdr pg. 3-8,

“state of nature”

A hypothetical, pre-social condition used by Enlightenment thinkers to describe human life before the establishment of organized government, laws, and civil society, often serving as a foundation for theories of political legitimacy. The words “state of nature” aren’t actually written anywhere in the reader, but the idea is discussed on reader page 8.

[social?] contract theory of government

The political concept asserting that a government's authority is derived from a mutual agreement (a social contract) between the rulers and the subjects, where individuals surrender certain liberties in exchange for security and the protection of their remaining rights. Discussed on reader pg. 4-5

Thomas Hobbes

(1588-1679) English Enlightenment philosopher who argued that there should be a strong central government, because then there won’t be war. The central government should keep the masses in check with with the fear of punishment. Ideas discussed in the primary source document that Dr. Allen handed out in class with excerpts from the different philosopher’s works.

John Locke

Influential English thinker who argued that humans are born with natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights. Argued that if a government fails to do so, the people have a right to revolt. Ideas discussed on reader pg. 4-5, 6, 8, and the primary source document that Dr. Allen handed out in class with excerpts from the different philosopher’s works.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Genevan philosopher, wrote The Social Contract (1762), argued that true sovereignty resides with the people and that individuals should align their personal interests with the “general will” of the community for the greater good. His ideas are discussed on reader pages 4, 6-7(!), 8, and the primary source document that Dr. Allen handed out in class with excerpts from the different philosopher’s works.

popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are considered the ultimate source of all political power. Argued by Locke and Rousseau, more info on Reader pg. 7

Encyclopédie

A monumental multi-volume reference work co-edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert that sought to catalog all human knowledge and promote secular, rationalist thought across Enlightenment-era Europe. Mentioned on reader pg. 3 & 8

separation of powers (Montesquieu)

A political doctrine advocating for the division of government into three distinct branches—the executive, legislative, and judicial—to ensure a system of checks and balances and prevent the concentration of power. Mentioned on reader pg. 5-6.

natural rights

Universal and inalienable rights that are believed to be inherent to all human beings from birth, such as life and freedom, and which cannot be justly granted or revoked by any human law or government.

noble savage

A philosophical concept, often linked with the critique of modern civilization, that idealizes indigenous or “uncivilized” people as being naturally more virtuous, peaceful, and uncorrupted than those living in industrial or European societies. John Locke wrote “In the beginning all the world was America,” and Rousseau talked about Indigenous Americans’ “natural aristocracy.” More info on reader page 8.