How did the Scientific Revolution prepare the way for the Enlightenment? Contrast Locke’s theory of natural rights with the thinking of Thomas Hobbes and the theory of divine right. What policies did enlightened despots have in common? In what ways did the Enlightenment contribute to the abolitionist movement? The EnlightenmentDuring the Scientific Revolution, scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton used reasonto explain why things happened in the physical universe. Their successes inspiredgreat confidence in the power of reason. By the early 1700s, writers sought to usereason to discover natural laws, or laws that govern human behavior. By applyingthe scientific method of investigation and observation, scholars thought that theycould solve the problems of society.This way of thinking led to the Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, the period in the1700s in which people rejected traditional ideas and supported a belief in humanreason. The belief that logical thought can lead to truth is called rationalism. TheEnlightenment introduced new ways of viewing authority, power, government,and law.Leading Thinkers of the EnlightenmentFour of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers were John Locke, Baronde Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.LockeJohn Locke, an English thinker of the late 1600s, believed that all people possessnatural rights. These rights, he said, include the rights to life, liberty, and property.In his Two Treatises on Government, Locke stated that people form governments toprotect their rights. If a government does not protect these rights, people have theright to overthrow it. Locke's ideas inspired the American colonists to rebelagainst Great Britain in 1776.MontesquieuIn the 1700s, French philosophe Baron de Montesquieu wrote in On The Spirit of theLaws that the powers of government should be separated into three branches:legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers would preventtyranny by creating what is called a system of checks and balances. Each branchcould keep the other two from gaining too much power. The U.S. Constitution,written in 1790, reflects Montesquieu's ideas.VoltaireVoltaire was a French thinker of the 1700s who believed in free speech. He usedhis sharp wit to criticize the French government and the Catholic Church for theirfailure to permit religious toleration and intellectual freedom.RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau, another French philosophe of the 1700s, put forth his ideason government and society in a book titled The Social Contract. He wrote "man isborn free but everywhere he is in chains" meaning that people are naturally goodbut are corrupted by the evils of society, such as the unequal distribution ofproperty. He felt that in agreeing to form a government, people choose to give uptheir own interests for the common good.Rousseau believed in the "general will," which was not necessarily the same asthe will of the majority. Sometimes a small group of people may have a bettersense of the common good. For a society to function smoothly, even those whodisagree with the general will must obey. Both democracies and dictatorshipshave adopted Rousseau's ideas.Impact of the EnlightenmentThe ideas proposed by Enlightenment thinkers had a great impact throughoutEurope in the 1700s. Greater numbers of people began to question establishedbeliefs and customs. Enlightenment beliefs affected leaders and the developmentof nations.Government CensorshipAs Enlightenment ideas gained in popularity, government and Church leadersworked to defend the established systems. They started a campaign of censorshipto suppress Enlightenment ideas. Many writers, including Voltaire, were throwninto prison, and their books were banned and burned.Enlightened DespotsSome monarchs accepted Enlightenment ideas. They were known as enlighteneddespots, absolute rulers who used their power to reform society.Frederick the Great The King of Prussia, Frederick II, saw himself as the "firstservant of the state" with a duty to work for the common good. A follower ofVoltaire, he tolerated different religions, reduced the use of torture, and allowed afree press. But in the end, his reforms increased his own power.Joseph II The Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II, continued and expanded many ofhis mother Maria Theresa's reforms, such as taxing the nobility and making.primary education available to all children. The most radical of the enlighteneddespots, Joseph modernized the Austrian government, chose officials for theirtalents rather than because of their status, and implemented legal reforms. Healso practiced religious toleration, ended censorship, and abolished serfdom.However, many of Joseph's reforms were later overturned.Catherine the Great In 1762, Catherine II, later known as Catherine the Great,became empress of Russia. During her reign, she read Enlightenment works andeven corresponded with Voltaire and Montesquieu. As a result of her exposure toEnlightenment ideas, Catherine asked for the advice of nobles, free peasants, andtownspeople. Never before had Russian citizens been allowed to advise thegovernment.Catherine also built schools and hospitals, promoted the education of women,and granted some religious tolerance. But, like Frederick the Great, she did notgive up power. Unfortunately, many of Catherine's reforms were short-lived.Later in her reign, Catherine grew more repressive after a peasant uprising.AbolitionismThe ideas of natural laws and natural rights emerged as central themes of theEnlightenment, but did they apply only to white European men? John Lockechampioned the natural right to liberty. It was the basis of citizenship and socialcontracts. Black Africans were kidnapped from their homes in West Africa andwere transported to the Americas where they lived and toiled and died inbondage. They had no liberty.A highly religious man and Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, led thefight for abolition-the end of slave trade and then slavery-in the British Empire.He won election to the House of Commons in 1780 at the age of 21 and aftereighteen years of persistent campaigning, he saw Parliament end the slave trade.After his retirement, he continued his efforts, and the British abolished slavery inthe British Empire in 1833.

The Enlightenment, which arose from the Scientific Revolution, applied the scientific approach…

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Social Psychology (10th Edition)

10th Edition

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology

Section: Chapter Questions

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How did the Scientific Revolution prepare the way for the Enlightenment? Contrast Locke’s theory of natural rights with the thinking of Thomas Hobbes and the theory of divine right. What policies did enlightened despots have in common? In what ways did the Enlightenment contribute to the abolitionist movement?