The Enlightenment:Path to the Enlightenment Philosophical movement of the 18th

century Intellectuals were impressed with the

achievements of the Scientific Revolution Reason

The application of the scientific method to an understanding of all life

Used this reason to make progress to an improved society

Isaac Newton The physical world was a

giant machine Intellectuals believed they

could use Newton’s methods to discover the natural laws governing human society

John Locke Essay Concerning Human

Understanding Every person born with a

tabula rasa, or blank mind Used Newton’s methods to

try to discover a universal set of natural laws

The Enlightenment:Philosophes and Their Ideas Philosophe – French name meaning

“philosopher” Writers, professors, journalists, economists, and

social reformers Many French, yet still an International

movement Role of philosophy was to change the world Enlightenment spanned a century

Got more radical with each generation

The Enlightenment:MontesquieuThe Spirit of the Laws

Used the scientific method to find the natural laws that govern the social and political relationships of human beings

Identified 3 forms of government

Republics – for small states Despotism – for large states Monarchies – moderate-size

states Three Branches of

Government Separation of Powers Limited by a system of checks

and balances

The Enlightenment:Voltaire

Criticism of Christianity Religious toleration

Treatise on Toleration “All men are brothers under

God” Deism – based on reason

and natural law Built on the idea of the

Newtonian world-machine Creator made the earth, then

stepped back and let it run

The Enlightenment:Diderot

Became a freelance writer So he could study many subjects

Wrote the Encyclopedia Classified Dictionary of the

Sciences, Arts, and Trades 28 Volume Collection

Articles attacked religious superstition Supported religious toleration

Sold to doctors, clergymen teachers and lawyers Spread the ideas of the

Enlightenment