Notes on the Enlightenment Thinkers

4. Enlightenment
Unit 4, Day 4

5. Scientific Revolution
1. Scientific Revolution challenges old
ideas
2. Challenges the RCC/traditional
information
3. People begin to question the world
around them

6. 1. Enlightenment = new ideas about
government

7. 2. Applies reason to the human world

8. Inspires tolerance and revolutions
around the world

9. Philosophers:

10. Thinker: Thomas Hobbes
Book: Leviathan

11. Idea: Humans are primitive, government
protects us.
So what? Support kings with total power.
Power comes from force.

12. * Hobbes = HATE

13. Thinker: John Locke
Book: Two Treatises of Government

14. Ideas:
- People are good/ sovereign
- Governments protect natural rights (life,
liberty and property)
- No such thing as “Divine Right”

15. So What?
- Wanted limited government
- Power comes from people

16. *Locke =
LOVE

17. Thinker: Montesquieu
Book: The Spirit of Laws

18. Ideas:
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
So What?
Inspires US
Constitution

19. * Three up, Three down (M)

20. Thinker: Rousseau
Book: The Social Contract

21. Idea:
- Government is a contract between rulers
and ruled
- Violate that contract = revolution

22. So What?
- Inspired revolutions all over the world
- USA/France/Haiti

23. * Roussocial
Contract

24. Thinker: Voltaire
Book: Treatise on Toleration

25. Ideas:
• Promoted religious tolerance
• Separation of Church and State

26. So What?
Inspired U.S. Bill of Rights (1st
Amendment)

27. * V
Religion Church

28. Thinker: Adam Smith
Book: Wealth of Nations

29. Idea:
Capitalism
(Competition between
businesses)
So What?
Causes inequality

30. * $mith

31. Classwork
Complete individually and turn in to correct
tray please! :)

32. WRAP UP
How do the ideas of these 6 men still impact
government and society today?
HW: Complete Day 4 HW
Launch: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool
than to speak and to remove all doubt- Maurice
Switzer