THE AGE OF REASON

1
The Enlightenment

THE AGE OF REASON
2
The Philosophes

• The social critics of this period in
• France were known as philosophes.
• Five important concepts to their
• philosophy
• 1. Reason 4. Progress
• 2. Nature 5. Liberty
• 3. Happiness

3
Thomas Hobbes

• Leviathon
• Social Contract between man and government
• People are selfish and cruel.
• ABSOLUTE MONARCH BEST FORM

4
John Locke
5
John Locke

• Two Treatises of Government (1690)
• Natural Rights
• Optimistic view on human nature
• Government has limited power
• If government does not help the people, people
  can overthrow

6
Voltaire
7
Voltaire

• Candide
• 1759
• Satire
• targeted corrupt officials, freedom of religion
  and speech.
• detested the slave trade and prejudice.
• Offended the Catholic Church
• Imprisoned and forced into exile.

8
Montesquieu
9
Montesquieu

• The Spirit of Laws (1748)
• legislature, executive and judicial
• Separation of power
• checks and balances

10
Rousseau
1762 Social Contract
11
Rousseau

• People were born innocent and corrupted by
  society.
• Giving up control to a government is good if you
  are working for a common good
• Government is based on the consent of the
  governed.
• Hatred of political and economic oppression

12
Mary Wollstonecraft

• A Vindication of the Rights of Women
• 1792
• WOMENS
• EQUALITY

13
Enlightened Despots
14
Deism

• Creator who does not intervene in the universe.
• Do not need organized religion.

15
Existentialism (19th century)

• Human experience is unexplainable
• Freedom of choice
• Consequences for actions