The 18th century philosophical movement in Europe and America, which emphasized intellectual freedom and reason over

tradition, questioning of authority, and an empirical approach to science.

Promoted a scientific approach to political and social issues

Gave rise to a sense of human progress

REASON
The Enlightenment was also known as the Age of Reason.

PEOPLE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT BELIEVED T H E Y C O U L D U S E R E A S O N TO

discover the natural laws of the universe determine the natural rights of mankind promote unending progress in knowledge, technical achievement, & moral values

REASON
They believed reason shows life as it is, whereas imagination shows life as people wish it were or

fear it may be.

Reason can be used to combat ignorance, superstition and tyranny

DEISM
Enlightenment thinking lead to Deism, a new religious philosophy Deists believed in God as a great inventor or architect who had created the universe and then allowed it to function without divine intervention. Deists believed in an after-life, but human achievement and happiness should be the focus of this life Rather than focusing on God, the people focused on man.

FAMOUS ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS

Ren Descartes
French Philosopher 1596 -1650 I think therefore I am
Father of Modern Philosophy

Sir Isaac Newton

Mathematician/ Discoverer of gravity
1642 1727

John Locke
American Philosopher 1632 - 1704

JOHN LOCKES IDEAS

Tabla Rasathe mind is born a blank upon which all
knowledge is inscribed in the form of human experience Attacked the divine right of kings Revolution is not only a right but an obligation (social contract)

Valued life, liberty, and property ownership

Benjamin Franklin

Poor Richards Almanac

1706 - 1790

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (17061800)

Never received a formal education Was one of 17 children At 17 years old, traveled to

Philadelphia and began producing Poor

Richards Almanac Invented the lightning rod, bifocals, new type of stove & discovered laws of electricity

BEN FRANKLINS WRITING

We will read from The Autobiography, which he wrote for his son over a period of 19 years

Ben Franklin was known for his aphorisms Aphorismis a short concise statement expressing a wise or clever observation or general truth *may contain rhymes or repeated sounds Franklin put an aphorism at the top or bottom of most pages in his almanac.

He that lives upon hope will die fasting. God helps them that help themselves. A small leak will sink a great ship.

APHORISMS
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. The rotten apple spoils his companions.

If your head is wax, dont walk in the sun.

Patrick Henry 1736 1799

Give me liberty or give me death.

Thomas Paine 1737 - 1809 These are the times that try mens souls.

THOMAS PAINE (17371809)

Considered to be the most effective American political writer of the Revolution Throughout the war, his pamphlets convinced people of the justness of the American cause

THOMAS PAINES WRITING

Common Sense (1776)a pamphlet in which he accused the English king of tyranny The Rights of Man (1792)supported the Revolutionary cause; was imprisoned for pleading against the execution of the overthrown French king The Age of Reason (1785)sharp attack of organized religion; he began writing in prison

Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. "

THE LITERATURE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Centered around having a purpose: To instruct, enlighten and make people think Was mostly nonfictionfact based rather than imaginative Political, social & philosophical concerns were expressed in writing Information became more available Newspapers were popular

THE ENLIGHTENMENT MADE THE PENDULUM SWING!

Swing of the pendulum from God-centered life and concentration on the after-life to reason and

the belief that man could know about his world

There was no real unity of ideas, but there was a tremendous intellectual energy and enthusiasm generated.

NOW YOU WILL

Read the excerpt from Ben Franklins autobiography (in the text book on page 68.)

In the left side of your notebook, list Ben

Franklins 13 virtues. Next to each, write a sentence about whether or not you value that virtue. If you

do not value it, write a virtue of your own.