Enlightenment Philosophers

What was the Enlightenment

New ideas in government and politics

People begin questioning the need for all powerful kings

Can people chose leaders for themselves?

“ All people are created equal”

New (and potentially dangerous) concept

Dangerous to who?

Thomas Hobbes

Notice the title of Hobbes’ book What is a Leviathan? What do you think Hobbes was trying to say about government based on the title of his book?

Leviathan!!

Hobbes From England Wrote Leviathan -Observation: People are generally bad Life without strong government is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, & short.” -Hypothesis: Absolute government is needed to control evil behavior Not the same as but not divine right People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

-Observation: gov’t exists to “preserve life, liberty, & property” -Hypothesis: people should be sovereign (rule) -Hypothesis: monarchs not chosen by God People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s John Locke From: England Wrote: Two Treatises on Government

Montesquieu -Observation: “When the legislature & executive are united in the same person, there is no liberty (freedom)” -Hypothesis: Gov’t must have “ Separation of Powers ” -- 3 branches People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s From: France Wrote: “The Spirit of Laws”

Rousseau -Observation: “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” -Hypothesis: Gov’t is contract between people & rulers. People can break it (rebel) People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s From: France Wrote: The Social Contract

Voltaire -Observation: Life is better with liberty -Hypothesis: Freedom of speech & religion, separation of church & state -“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. “ People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s From: France

Reflection: On Back 1. All of these people… 2. To come up with their ideas, they all used… 3. All of their ideas dealt with...

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s Locke Hobbes Montesquieu Rousseau Voltaire Name From Wrote Main Ideas

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s Locke Hobbes Montesquieu Rousseau Voltaire England England France France France -Observation: gov’t exists to “preserve life, liberty, & property” -Hypothesis: people should be sovereign (rule) -Hypothesis: monarchs not chosen by God -Observation: Life without gov’t is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, & short.” -Hypothesis: Absolute gov’t needed to control evil behavior (not divine right) -Observation: “When the legislature & executive are united in the same person, there is no liberty (freedom)” -Hypothesis: Gov’t must have “ Separation of Powers ” -- 3 branches -Observation: “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” -Hypothesis: Gov’t is contract between people & rulers. People can break it (rebel) -Observation: Life is better with liberty -Hypothesis: Freedom of speech & religion, separation of church & state -“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. “ Name From Wrote Main Ideas Two Treatises on Gov’t Leviathan The Spirit of Laws The Social Contract