The Enlightenment ca. 1650-1800 (a.k.a. The Age of Reason)

The The EnlightenmentEnlightenment

ca. 1650-1800ca. 1650-1800

(a.k.a. (a.k.a. The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason))

Today’s 3 Big Today’s 3 Big Ideas:Ideas:

1) Where did government 1) Where did government come from?come from?

2) How much power should 2) How much power should it have?it have?

3) Should it ever be 3) Should it ever be overthrown?overthrown?

A. Divine Right of A. Divine Right of KingsKings

The late-Renaissance period The late-Renaissance period of the 1500s & 1600s is called of the 1500s & 1600s is called the:the: “Age of Absolute “Age of Absolute Monarchs.”Monarchs.”

Coming out of the chaos of Coming out of the chaos of the Middle Ages, strong kings the Middle Ages, strong kings built powerful armies and built powerful armies and ruled with ruled with absolute power.absolute power.

A. Divine Right of Kings A. Divine Right of Kings (cont.)(cont.)

Governments do 3 things:Governments do 3 things:

1) Make laws.1) Make laws.

2) Enforce laws.2) Enforce laws.

3) Interpret laws.3) Interpret laws.

Absolute monarchs Absolute monarchs controlled all 3 functions of controlled all 3 functions of government.government.


Rulers believed in the Rulers believed in the “Divine “Divine Right of Kings” Right of Kings” (or (or DRKDRK) theory.) theory.

They felt that they were God’s They felt that they were God’s representative on earth.representative on earth.

They used this theory to justify They used this theory to justify taking and keeping all the taking and keeping all the power.power.


For centuries no one For centuries no one challenged DRK theory.challenged DRK theory.

Strong kings helped Strong kings helped maintain maintain order order in society.in society.

After the chaos of the Middle After the chaos of the Middle Ages, this was more important Ages, this was more important than freedom to most people.than freedom to most people.


Answering today’s 3 questionsAnswering today’s 3 questions:: 1) 1) God created government God created government and chose a king to rule.and chose a king to rule. 2) The king gets 2) The king gets absolute absolute power power as God’s representative on as God’s representative on earth.earth. 3) 3) No one can rebel No one can rebel because because that goes against that goes against God’s will.God’s will.

B. Thomas HobbesB. Thomas Hobbes

• English philosopher

• ca. mid-1600s.

• Helped to create “Social Contract” theory.

B. Thomas Hobbes B. Thomas Hobbes (cont.)(cont.)

Rejected the “DRK” theory.Rejected the “DRK” theory.

Refused to believe that God Refused to believe that God created government and hand-created government and hand-picked the king.picked the king.

Instead, he believed that it was Instead, he believed that it was actually actually the people the people who originally who originally put the ruler in charge.put the ruler in charge.


Hobbes believed that originally Hobbes believed that originally we lived free in the we lived free in the “state of “state of nature” nature” during which:during which:

1) total freedom led to chaos and 1) total freedom led to chaos and the the “war of all against all.”“war of all against all.”

2) life for most was 2) life for most was “nasty, “nasty, brutish and short.” brutish and short.”


Hobbes theorized that in the Hobbes theorized that in the midst of this chaos midst of this chaos free people free people agreed to start government.agreed to start government.

Free individuals agreed to Free individuals agreed to give up some of their freedom give up some of their freedom and put a ruler in charge.and put a ruler in charge.


In return, the ruler would provide In return, the ruler would provide law and order in a civilized society.law and order in a civilized society.

This is called This is called “Social Contract” “Social Contract” (or (or SCSC) theory.) theory.

The ruler got power not from God, The ruler got power not from God, but from but from free people free people who agreed to who agreed to obey rules so that there could be obey rules so that there could be order.order.


Hobbes believed the ruler, when Hobbes believed the ruler, when chosen, inherited chosen, inherited absolute power absolute power because:because:

1) People are basically selfish.1) People are basically selfish.

2) Each person only wants what’s 2) Each person only wants what’s best for themselves.best for themselves.

3) The ruler must ignore the people 3) The ruler must ignore the people and and do what he thinks is best do what he thinks is best for for everyone.everyone.


In addition, Hobbes felt rebellion In addition, Hobbes felt rebellion against the king is against the king is nevernever justified.justified.

Rebellion only leads us back to Rebellion only leads us back to the chaos of the state of nature.the chaos of the state of nature.

A bad king is better than no king!A bad king is better than no king!


Answering today’s 3 questionsAnswering today’s 3 questions:: 1) 1) Free people Free people created created government to prevent chaos.government to prevent chaos. 2) The king gets 2) The king gets absolute power absolute power to do what’s best for the people.to do what’s best for the people.3) 3) No one can rebel No one can rebel because that because that would send us would send us back to the state of back to the state of nature.nature.

C. John LockeC. John Locke

• Another English philosopher

• ca. late-1600s.

• Also a Social Contract thinker.

C. John Locke C. John Locke (cont.)(cont.)

Like Hobbes, he rejected DRK Like Hobbes, he rejected DRK theory and accepted SC theory.theory and accepted SC theory.

He agreed that the state of nature He agreed that the state of nature was was chaoschaos and that people chose a and that people chose a ruler to provide ruler to provide law and orderlaw and order..

However, Locke differed from However, Locke differed from Hobbes on the nature of the social Hobbes on the nature of the social contract.contract.


Locke stressed that people Locke stressed that people are born with three are born with three “Natural “Natural Rights” Rights” given to them by God.given to them by God.

1) Life1) Life

2) Liberty2) Liberty

3) Property. 3) Property.


The contracted job of the ruler The contracted job of the ruler is simply to is simply to protect protect these rights.these rights.

If the ruler doesn’t protect the If the ruler doesn’t protect the people’s rights he has broken the people’s rights he has broken the social contract.social contract.

In this case, the people can rise In this case, the people can rise up, up, overthrowoverthrow the ruler and the ruler and replace him.replace him.


Locke’s version of SC theory Locke’s version of SC theory was truly was truly revolutionary.revolutionary.

Kings were not only put in Kings were not only put in power by the people but they also power by the people but they also answer to the peopleanswer to the people..

The people can The people can overthrowoverthrow a bad a bad king and replace him.king and replace him.

B. John Locke B. John Locke (cont.)(cont.)

Answering today’s 3 questionsAnswering today’s 3 questions::

1) 1) Free people Free people created created government to protect their rights.government to protect their rights.

2) The king gets 2) The king gets limited power limited power and must respect the rights of the and must respect the rights of the people.people.

3) The people 3) The people can overthrow can overthrow a a king that doesn’t king that doesn’t respect and respect and protect their rights.protect their rights.


In 1776, Thomas Jefferson included Locke’s ideas in the:Declaration of Independence.

Documents

The Enlightenment ca. 1650-1800 (a.k.a. The Age of Reason)