The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that applied scientific reasoning to human society. Key thinkers like Isaac Newton, John Locke, and philosophers called "Philosophes" used reason to critique religious and political institutions and argue for ideas like separation of powers, religious tolerance, and equality. Their works spread new ideas through growing publications and salons, though most Europeans still identified as Christian. The Enlightenment had wide-ranging effects on science, politics, economics, and society.

1. The Enlightenment
Chapter 17, Section 2

2. Path to the Enlightenment
 What was the Enlightenment???
 Philosophical movement- applying the scientific
method to all aspects of life
 Common words of the Enlightenment:
 Reason
 Natural Law
 Hope
 Progress

3. Isaac Newton
 Discovered natural laws that
governed the physical world
 Intellectuals of the
Enlightenment used his
methods to discover the
natural laws of human
society

4. John Locke
 Argued that everyone was born with
a tabula rasa- blank slate
 People were molded by experiences
and observations
 If environments changed then people
would change.
 If people changed, society would be
changed.

5. Philosophes and Their
Ideas
 Philosophe = Philosopher
 Intellectuals of the Enlightenment
 Mostly from nobility and middle class
 Goal-to change the world through
rational criticism of religion and politics

6. Montesquieu
 Most famous work- The Spirit of
Laws
 Ideas:
 3 basic kinds of governments:
 Republics (for small states)
 Despotism (for large states)
 Monarchies (medium states)
 Separation of Powers:
 3 Branches:
executive, legislative, and judicial
 Sound familiar?

7. Voltaire
 Greatest figure of the
Enlightenment
 Known for his criticism of
Christianity and strong belief
of religious toleration
 Wrote Treatise on Toleration
 Deism- God is like a
“clockmaker” and does not
interfere with his creation

8. Diderot
 Freelance writer
 Wrote the Encyclopedia, or
Classified Dictionary, of the
Sciences, Arts, and Trades
 Attacked religious superstition
and supported religious
toleration and political
improvements
 Sold to doctors, clergymen,
teachers, and lawyers-
spreading the ideas if the
Enlightenment!

9. Economics
 Adam Smith
 Laissez-Faire- literally means “to
let do” or let people do what they
want
 Wrote The Wealth of Nations
 3 basic roles of government:
 Protecting society from invasion
(army)
 Defending citizens from injustice
(police)
 Certain public works (roads, canals,
etc)

10. Beccaria and Justice
 Wrote On Crimes and Punishments
 Opposed capital punishment- believed it did not
stop others fro committing crimes
 Crimes should not be brutal
 “Is it not absurd, that the laws, which punish
murder, should in order to prevent
murder, publicly commit murder themselves?”

11. The Later Enlightenment
 Rousseau- believed people had
become enslaved by government
 Social Contract- “the general will”
is what’s best for the entire
community
 Education should foster, not
restrict, children’s natural instincts
 Saw the importance of emotions as
well as reason- balance between
heart and mind

12. Rights of Women
 Mary Wollstonecraft
 Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of
Women
 2 problems:
 If the power of monarchs over their
people is wrong, then so is the power of
men over women
 Enlightenment was based on the power
of reason in all human beings. Since
women have reason, they deserve the
same rights as men
 Women should have equal writes in
education, economic, and political life

13. Social World of the
Enlightenment
 Growth of Reading
 Magazines and
Newspapers
 Salons

14. Religion in the
Enlightenment
 Many Europeans were still
Christians
 John Wesley- Methodism
 Appealed to the lower classes
 Preached to the masses in
open fields
 Influenced the abolition of
the slave trade
 People still needed spiritual
experiences