the enlightenment

Hobbes

English writer from the 1600s who in 1651 wrote Leviathan.

• Created the idea of a social contract (giving rights to gov. to better the people),

• believed that humans were naturally wicked and motivated by self interest and preservation.

• He believed if humans were left to govern themselves society would be evil.

• Believed the purpose of gov. was to prevent disorder and should have power of Leviathan (absolute monarchy is the best)

Locke

English writer who was around in the 1690s and wrote treaties for the gov.

• Believed people had the gift of reason and therefore should be able to govern their own affairs and welfare of society.

• Govs purpose is to protect the 3 basic rights, gov is a contract with people where they protect rights,

• power comes from consent of the governed, abusing rights justifies rebellion,

• limited gov, defined by landowning

Beccaria

Italian

• believed laws existed to preserve social order and not avenge crimes

• against torture and capitol punishment (ex: death penalty, maiming)

• punishment should fit crime

• right to speedy trial

Montesquieau

French writer who wrote On The Spirit of Laws in 1748

• believed Brit had the best gov - led to separation of powers

• separations of powers divide power among branches and prevent any one branch from gaining too much power (Checks and Balances)

• Executive: carries out laws

• Legislative: makes laws

• judicial: judges and makes sure they are constitutional

• influenced US

Diderot

French writer who wrote the Encyclopedia between 1751 - 1772

• encyclopedia: 28 vol set of articles and essays by many authors including him

• challenged traditional views in society

• religious toleration

• demanded for social, legal and political reforms

• articles and findings in math and science were included and brought “current” knowledge together

• greatly helped spread enlightenment

Voltaire

French writer from 1758

• prolific writer

• jailed 2 times by Louis XV, led to grudge against French gov and admiration of Brit parliament and growing power

• mocked French laws and customs and even Christianity, fled to Switzerland after fearing being in Bastille again

• believed in religious toleration

• freedom of thought and speech

• “I do not agree with what you’re saying, but I will defend your right to say it”

Rosseau

French writer who wrote Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind in 1754

• adapted laws of gov to preserve property

• believed people were born good and were corrupted by society

• wrote the Social Contract in 1762

• through a social contract an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will

• general will: represents what is best for the entire community

• will of majority should work for common good

• liberty is achieved through following general will

• believed all people were equal and nobility titles should be abolished

Wolstencraft

English writer who write the essay A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792

• pointed out hypocrisy of the Enlightenment

• believed is gov based on arbitrary power of monarchs was therefore the arbitrary power of men over women was equally wrong

• women should have equal rights in education, political and economic life

5 core ideas: reason

basis of enlightenment - divine force - the truth could be discovered through logical thinking - could be applied to all aspects of life - absence of tolerance, bigotry or prejudice in ones thinking

Nature

natural rights are good - believed “natural laws” (that applied to science) could and should apply to economics and politics

Happiness

those who lived by natures laws will be happy - disagreed with medieval ideas that people should accept misery in the world in hopes of finding joy in the hereafter

Progress

believed in progress of society - society and humankind could be improved

Liberty

many envied progress of England and it’s Bill of Rights, called for the rights of English people had won for the people - through reason society could be set free

Natural rights

life, liberty, and property created by Locke