PHILOSOPHY IN THE AGE OF REASON

I. World of Progress and Reason

a. Success of scientists led people to believe that you could discover natural laws with reasoning

i. Natural laws – laws that govern human nature

1. Can apply them to solve human problems

II. Views of the Social Contract

a. Thomas Hobbes

i. Leviathan

ii. People naturally cruel, greedy, selfish

1. if left to self people take advantage of each other

iii. social contract

1. to get safety, give up natural state for organized society

2. supports strong centralized government

b. John Locke

i. Two Treatises of Government

ii. People are moral and reasonable

iii. Natural rights

1. all humans have certain rights – life, liberty, property

iv. limited government is the best

v. government is obligated to people it rules, if not, can overthrow it

III. Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws

a. Spirit of the Laws – 1748 – praise Brits limited monarchy

b. Brits had protected liberty by separating powers of government

c. Separation of powers serves as checks and balances

IV. World of Philosophes

a. Philosophes – lovers of wisdom

b. Voltaire – defends freedom of speech

i. Attacked corrupt politicians and business practices

ii. Criticized the government and the church

c. The Encyclopedia – Diderot (dee DROH)

i. Designed to challenge thinking of the day

ii. Attack slavery, divine rights, church – Support freedom of expression, education for all

V. Rousseau – Controversial figure

a. Was from poor family

b. People basically good, but get corrupted by wealth and society

c. Social Contract – “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

i. Chains are societal controls on people

ii. Government based on the consent of the governed

iii. People voluntarily give up some rights for protection of government

d. Believed needs of community more important than individual (general will)

VI. “Natural Rights” for Women

a. women didn’t have rights of men – were limited to home

b. Women begin to protest Enlightenment ideas that women are not part of social contract

c. Mary Wollstonecraft – England

i. Woman first duty to family

ii. Woman can decide for self what is in her best interest – NOT dependent on men

iii. Vindication of the Rights of Women – she calls for equal education to allow women to participate in government

VII. New Economic Thinking

a. Physiocrats - look for natural laws to govern economics

b. Laissez – Faire

i. Mercantilism advocate government involvement to regulate trade

ii. Laissez Faire wants little government involvement in trade

1. real wealth from making land more productive, not gold

2. want free trade and no tariffs

c. Adam Smith –

i. Wealth of Nations

1. free market – supply and demand should govern business

2. wherever demand for good or service, suppliers will meet it

ii. government should protect society, administer justice, provide public works