The Enlightenment (1)

The Enlightenment(The Age of Reason)

Main characters1.The universe system is governed by natural law.2.The scientific method is only one method to answer all questions.3. Human being should be educated to improve their way of life. - John Locke

John Locke• Essay Concerning Human Understanding - Theory of Knowledge 1. Human mind at birth is a Blank tablet (Latin:tabula rasa) 2. To perceive the external world (environment, education, learning, experiences etc.)

• Believed people were born with a “clean slate” and molded by their experiences.• If people were exposed to the right experiences a new society could be created. http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/locke.htm

Philosophes and Their Ideas• Intellectuals “educated men” were known as Philosophe means philosopher.• Most leaders of the Enlightenment were French.

Philosophe - useful knowledge- scientific method- spread to society (publication)

The Outstanding Philosophes

Voltaire• Voltaire was an Enlightenment writer.• His most famous novel was Candide.• Voltaire was especially concerned with freedom of thought and expression.

• “I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

The Baron de Montesquieu• He strongly believed in the rights of individuals.• The importance of external world to human being External conditions force humans to behave in different ways and that there is nothing they can do about this.

• He Wrote The Spirit of Laws in 1748. In this book, he described how governments should be organized.• His idea: The separation of powers: By dividing different powers among more than one branch of government.



Jean-Jacques Rousseau• Human beings were naturally good but that environment made them evil.• Social contract• The power of leader belonged to people and people had rights to against their government.