The Enlightenment in Europe

By Jose Rosario
Page 124
A. The Scientific Revolution & the new
way of thinking prompted European
scholars & philosophers to reevaluate
the old notions of society
 English Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes John Locke
B. Enlightenment started from some key
ideas of two English political thinkers
1. Thomas Hobbes
a. He was convinced the men were selfish & wicked, and the
government was need to rule and keep order over them.
b. The a social contract was in which people create a
government to establish law & order, an absolute
monarchy in this case.
2. John Locke
a. Believe that people learn from experience & that they
have a natural ability govern themselves.
b. According to him people were born free & equal, & the
government should protect those rights.
C. The enlighten philosophers believed
in five concepts.
1. Reason – truth can be discovered through
logical thinking
2. Nature – it was good and reasonable
3. Happiness – that people should find joy &
their well-being
4. Progress – mankind can be improved
5. Liberty – that people can win the same
English liberties
 French Philosophers:
Voltaire Montesquieu
 French Philosophers:
1. Voltaire
a. Wrote more than 70 books
b. Used satire to critic the clergy, the aristocracy & the government.
c. Fought for freedom religion & speech, & against intolerance,
prejudice & superstition.
2. Montesquieu
a. Believed that the best governments have a balance of powers:
executive, legislative & judicial.
3. Rousseau
a. Believed that society corrupted people, who were born naturally
good.
b. For him the best government was the one made by men freely &
democratically.
Guided Reading Workbook
PAGES 207 - 208