Enlightenment Questions and Answers Already Graded A

Enlightenment A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions., "natural laws". celebrate the power of human reason, argued that rational thought could create progress and knowledge. Control over own life and society., 18th century movement which emphasized modern practical achievements of knowledge, religious toleration and liberty., 18th and 19th century. Also age of reason. Characterised by faith in the ability of humans reason to solve society's problems Deism A popular Enlightenment era belief that there is a God, but that God isn't involved in people's lives or in revealing truths to prophets. Two treatises of Civil Government by John Locke the idea that a goverment is based on an agreement between the people and the ruler., writings of John Locke; says that all men posses certain natural rights, derived from the fact that they reasonable creatures., (1690) - Written by Locke, Government created to protect life, liberty, and property., Book by John Locke s that refutes the divine rights of kings and the absolutist theory of government Essay Concerning Human Understanding Locke, 1690, human mind has no innate ideas, what people know is not the world but the result of the interactions of the mind with the world., An essay by John Locke. Asserted that humans are born with a "tabula rasa" or a blank slate. Everything humans know comes from experience, not initial nature., This was Locke's deepest philosophical work. Published in 1690, it faced the great problem of the day - i.e. what is the source of knowledge? Locke said that it derived from experience (echoing Bacon). He denied Descartes notion of innate ideas. Said that the mind at birth was like a TABULA RASA or blank slate. One's experiences formed one's knowledge bank and molded reactions to the environment. Locke's environmentalist philosophy would be fundamental to liberal and reforming thought in later years. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS! Tabula Rasa Blank Slate Philosophes Thinkers of the Enlightenment; Wanted to educate the socially elite, but not the masses; were not allowed to openly criticize church or state, so used satire and double-meaning in their writings to avoid being banned; Salons held by wealthy women also kept philosophes safe; They considered themselves part of an intellectual community, and wrote back and forth to each other to share ideas., A group of French "radicals" who focused on human reason and making critical changes in society Voltaire () French philosopher. He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church., "Father of the Enlightenment", (1694- 1778) An upper middle class Frenchman who was inspired by Bayle. He wrote Letters concerning the English Nation which attacked Catholic bigotry in France by highlighting the advantages of England. He gained extreme fame by popularizing Newton's scientific discoveries in his book "Elements of the Philosophy of Newton.", () French, perhaps greatest Enlightenment thinker. Deist. Mixed glorification and reason with an appeal for better individuals and institutions. Wrote Candide. Believed enlightened despot best form of government. Ecracsez l'infame Crush the infamous thing. This is a saying by Voltaire, saying that we should act against organized religion. Spirit of Laws by Baron de Montesquieu Written by Montesique talking about the seperation of powers and how government should be divided up into separate branches of goverment., called for separation of powers in government into three branches Goal: prevent tyranny and promote liberty. Principle of checks and balances would ensure that no single branch of gov't became too powerful as the other two branches couldn't. Checks and Balances A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power.