2. Pens to Inspire Revolution
“No man has received from nature the right to give
orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and
every individual of the same species has the right to
enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason”
-Denis Diderot
3. The Age of Reason
By the early 1700s, European thinkers felt that
nothing was beyond the reach of the human mind.
The Scientific Revolution of that time, led to the
Enlightenment.
These philosophers believed that natural law could
help explain aspects of humanity.
4. Thinkers
Thomas Hobbes: social contract in
which people give power to the
government for an organized society.
John Locke: natural rights – life, liberty
and property.
Montesquieu: separation of powers;
checks and balances.
Voltaire: defended freedom of speech.
Rousseau: social contract (general will
for true liberty).
Adam Smith: free market.
5. Enlightenment Ideals
• 1. Human autonomy is the means and end of Enlightenment
• 2. The importance of reason
a. Freedom means being able to think rationally for yourself. b. Reason will lead
us to the truth.
• 3. Enlightenment is universal
All humans are equal by nature.
• 4. Progress
Human history is the story of progress in the human condition.
• 5. Secularism
Religion and politics should be separated. One’s method of worship should be a
private matter.
• 6. The centrality of economics to politics
A society’s well-being depends on how its economy is structured.
• 7. The ideal of popular government
People are capable of ruling themselves. The aristocracy is not the only class
that deserved to rule.
7. Word of Revolution
Word of revolution spread
throughout the world. The
American Revolution had
a great impact on other
parts of the world because
it established the first
government with all
powers based on the
consent of the people.
It inspired revolutions in
France, Hispaniola Island
and Latin America.
The American Revolution,
in turn was inspired by the
Enlightenment.
8. Class Debate
Discuss Locke’s and Hobbes’ ideas.
One was said to have a negative attitude and the
other one more optimistic persona.
9. Calvin & Hobbes
Do some research and
find out the origin of the
comic strip called Calvin
& Hobbes.
Why were they called
like that?
Draw a cartoon on your
own, and name him after
one the thinkers of the
enlightenment. Give him
some attributes that will
reflect his ideals!
10. Bibliography
North Arizona University. (n.d.). Core Ideals of
the Enlightenment. Retrieved May 22, 2012, from
Northern Arizona University's Web Server JAN:
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jo52/POS254/Enlideals.ht
ml.
Ellis, E. G., & Esler, A. (2009). World History. (P.
Hall, Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, US:
Pearson Education INC.
Images taken from Google.com
