The+Enlightenment-2


 * __Enlightenment in Europe__**

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In the wake of the Scientific Revolution, the new ways of thinking inspired scholars and philosophers to reevaluate old notions about the aspects of society. They began to seek new insight into the underlying beliefs of government, religion, economics, and education. This spur caused enlightenment, reaching its height in the mid-1700s and brought great change to many aspects of Western civilization. =====

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//__Enlightenment:__// A new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems. =====


 * =====**Hobbes **===== || =====**Locke **===== ||
 * =====Thought of people as being naturally selfish and wicked. Said that without government for keeping order, there would be “war…of every man against every man,” and that life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” He claimed that for people to escape such a life, they’d have to give all their rights into the hands of a strong ruler. From this would be gained law and order. To keep people under control, the best government was one that had the awesome power of a leviathan, or in other words a government of absolute monarchy. ===== || =====Believed that in order for people to learn from experiences while improving themselves, they had to have the rights of their natural abilities. These would be the right to govern their own affairs while also looking after the welfare of society. Locke concurred that all people were born free and equal, with three natural rights-life, liberty, and property. Said it was the government’s job to protect their rights, and the government’s power comes from the consent of the people. These beliefs led to the liberty in Europe and the Americans. ===== ||

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__Voltaire:__ Known as one of the most inspiring and significant philosophes. His real name is François Marie Arouet. In his time, he had published over 70 political essays, philosophy, and drama. He is known for having a sharp tongue and satire (the use of irony, sarcasm, or wit to attack folly) against his opponents. Voltaire never gave up the fight for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech. His famous quote is “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” =====



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__Montesquieu:__ This prominent French writer devoted himself to the study of political liberty. Full name Baron de Montesquieu, he strongly believed that Britain was the best governed country in this time. There was division of power among different branches, which he called separation of powers. In his most famous book, On the Spirit of Laws (1748), he proposed the idea of separation of powers which would prevent any individual or group to take full control of the government. “Power,” he wrote, “should be a check to power.” This idea later has been named checks and balances. Montesquieu’s ideas were highly seen by political leaders in the British colonies of North America. His ideas became the basis for the United States Constitution. ===== 

__**Reason/Philosophies **__

In the mid-1700's, the enlightenment reached its peak in France. This movement pushed the thought and power of individuals regarding government, religion, economics, and education. Many people met in Paris, France to discuss politics and their ideas. Many people who were social critics of the new ideas were known as philosophes. Two famous philosophers were John Locke and Isaac Newton. Their concepts formed their core beliefs which were reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty. Many people believed that these ideas were very important and should be stressed in the everyday lives of people.

The British philosopher John Locke was considered one of the greatest philosophers in Europe at the end of the seventeenth century. John lived from 1632 to 1704. He started school at Westminster and then continued to Oxford and became a scholar. In his life he was a medical researcher and physician, political operative, economist and ideologue for a revolutionary movement, the Enlightenment. He wrote a monumental the //Essay Concerning Human Understanding which aimed to determine the limit of human understanding. In more of his work, //Locke gives us a theory of natural law and natural rights which he uses to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate civil governments. Throughout his life he favored the idea of self-government and criticized total monarchy. He also believed that people are born free and equal with three rights; life, liberty, and property and that the purpose of the government is to protect these rights. His ideas spread and many people favored his ideas. He became very important in History. ||
 * __John Locke __

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__Wollstonecraft:__ Women also made important contributions to the Enlightenment including Mary Wollstonecraft. She lived from 1759 - 1797. She recieved little schooling while young but she taught herself at home to read books. She dedicated her life to writing but throughout her life she also was a translator, publisher, and governess. She met her husband William Goodwin while working as a London publisher. In 1792, Mary wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women which was about women's education compared to men's and how their education should be equal. Mary died in 1797 after giving birth to her daughter Mary. She was very influential in the Enlightenment era along with many other women. =====



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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">As a whole today, more and more people are being educated because there are so many more fields that need to be educated for. The amount of fields over time has majorly increased due to the need for different information on subjects other than just science, math, or astronomy. This means that the population of people are enabled to increase their knowledge in whatever field they want and are able to become superior in that one subject instead of having to know about many different subjects. This would make it easier for someone to understand and remember a certain topic. =====

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">With the increasing number of knowledge fields, there is now room for people to have better jobs because they are better at a specific thing and can do very well for that one particular job. As better jobs increase, more and more money is able to be made which means better overall for our world. =====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Cesare Bonesana Beccaria__ was an Italian philosopher who believed that laws existed to keep social order and should not be there to avenge crimes. He criticized common abuses of justice. Some of these abuses included the torturing of witnesses and suspects, irregular proceedings in trials, and punishments that were arbitrary or cruel. Beccaria argued that a person who is accused of a crime should receive a speedy trial, and that torture should never be used. He also stated that the degree of the punishment should be based on the seriousness of the crime. He believed that capital punishment should be abolished.

Cesare Beccaria based his ideas about justice on the principle the governments should seek the greatest good for the greatest number of people. His ideas influenced many law reformers in North Africa and Europe.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What were the causes of enlightenment?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What was Hobbes’s view on government? Why did he feel this way?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What was Locke’s view on government? Why did he feel this way?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What actions made Voltaire widely known?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Explain the ideas Motesquieu suggested.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Explain the beliefs of John Locke and why he thought this way
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">How did Locke and Newton contribute to the enlightenment movement?
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What was the importance of Wollstonecraft’s work?
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What are the benefits of the increase of different fields?
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Explain Beccaria’s ideas on how criminal justice should be handled.

//__**Works Cited:**__//
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 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/locke.html]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> McDougal Little World History Book