Enlightenment Flashcards
- English philosopher
- Three natural rights: Life liberty, property
- Everyone born free and equal
- Argues that human being are essentially good and equal
John Locke
- Believed in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- Influenced by John Locke
- Used enlightenment ideas in the foundation of the United States
- Wrote the US Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
- Wrote “The Candide”
- Strong critic of the Catholic Church
- Fought for freedom of religion and speech
Voltaire (Francis Marie Arouet)
- Believed in Popular Sovereignty - A government created by and subject to the will of the people
- Wrote: Social Contract
- Perfect society would be composed of free citizens who formed a government by meeting
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Wrote: The spirit of laws
- Best government would have separation of power (Executive, legislative and judicial branches) such a balance would prevent the development of tyranny
- A separation of powers ensures liberty and freedom
Baron de Montesquieu
- Italian economist and jurist
- Against the use of judicial torture
- Wrote: On crimes and punishment
- Punishment should be used to prevent crime rather than as vengeance
- The punishment should fit the crime
Cesare Bonesana Beccaria
- Scottish economist
- Believed that the economy operates by natural laws and should not be interfered w/ by the government
- “Invisible Hand”
- Sometimes referred to as “Let it be economics”
- Wrote: Wealth of Nations
- Foundation of capitalism
Adam Smith
•Spread enlightened thinking in all areas by publishing the encyclopedia
Denis Diderot
- Russian
* Abolished serfdom, initiated legal reforms, introduced freedom of the press, and supported freedom of religion
Catherine the Great
- Prussian/German
- Religious freedoms, reduced censorship, improved education, and the justice system, and abolished torture; considered that the king should be “first servant of the state.”
Frederick the Great
Baroque
Grand ornate (ex: Versailles)
Salons significance and definition
Are social gathering in the homes of wealthy woman. Philosophers, writers, artists, and scientists met to discuss ideas
Popular Sovereignty
A government created by and subject to the will of the people
Great Britain and France significance during Enlightenment
Great Britain lost the American colonies to independence and France had a revolution
Enlightened despots
Monarchs who thought they were making enlightened reforms
