PHILOSOPHY IN THE AGE OF REASON

Note handout

Progress and Reason

Scientific Revolution used science to find laws that governed the physical world.

natural laws: laws that governs human nature.

Through the use of reason, Enlightenment thinkers believed they could solve political, economic, and cultural problems.

Enlightenment Thinkers

Thomas Hobbes: People are cruel and greedy; need strong

government; enter into a social contract Social contract: an agreement by which

people give up the state of nature for an organized society.

John Locke: People are good and have natural rights,

which the government protects. natural rights: rights that belong to all

humans from birth.

Enlightenment Thinkers

Montesquieu: separation of powers is the best way to protect liberty.

Enlightenment Thinkers

philosophe: French Enlightenment thinkers who tried to apply scientific methods to improve society.

Voltaire: Critic of corruption and injustice; defender of

free speech. Diderot:

Spread philosophes’ ideas; encouraged education for all.

Rousseau: Common good over the good of the individual.

Enlightenment Thinkers

Wollstonecraft: Equal education for boys and girls

Smith: Laws of supply and demand should control the

economy Physiocrats: Enlightenment thinkers who

searched for laws to govern economics. Laissez-faire: allows business to operate

with little or no government influence.