European Enlightenment

David V.C. Browne

The European Enlightenment was an intellectual movement of the Eighteenth century. It was
inspired by ,mostly French scholars but other thinkers existed in England, Netherlands and
Germany.

It was however, in France that the impetus for the movement occurred through the writings of
leading French thinkers referred to as the as the Philosophes. These philosophers attacked the
privileges of the aristocracies and condemned the abuses of the powers by the monarchy under
the ancient regime. Hence historians credited enlightened scholars in France with providing the
critical intellectual grounds that promoted revolution in France in 1789.

The enlightenment scholars attacked the theory divine right. Many European Monarch had
operated on the premise that they held their power through divine authority and were
accountable to providence. Enlightened scholars insisted that all citizens were equal before the
law and that the duty of the sovereigns was to serve the people.

Some enlightened thinkers in France and in Europe referred to the “social contract”. They
argued that governments were instituted among men to serve the interest of the people rather
than a small privilege of a few. For example John Locke defined the social contract as a political
one in which government was obligated to protect the rights of its citizens, and if it failed to do
so, the people had the mental right and duty to overthrow it and institute just government. The
framers of the US Declaration of Independence used Locke’s idea of the social contract to rebel
against Britain.

Other political ideas of the enlightenment looked at natural right. Governments they argued
cannot alter this doctrine of inalienable, fundamental rights. Every individual is assumed is born
with these rights which exists to protect his physical, spiritual and mental well being. The bill of
rights in the American constitution received its impetus from this theory of natural rights.

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Enlightenment touched many areas of European thought. Religious tolerance was a virtue to
be pursued in in an age of religious persecution. Some argued that man controlled his own
destiny rather than divine forces.

Some believed in orderly government and the system of checks and balance-Charles
Montesque. He argued that no branch of government should encroach on the powers of
another but instead, check the powers of each other.

There was also the notion that written law should be set out in a constitution and was a
superior system of government in terms of protecting the rights of citizens and preventing the
abuse of power by individuals.

The scholars also commented on economics. The physiocrats held the view that only agriculture
produced wealth and individuals who gain the greatest possible profit make the most efficient
use their resources. Adam Smith extended the theory of laisses-faire to attack mercantilism.

The main idea of European Enlightenment are as follows:

 Rationalism and Optimism

 Attacks on Divine Rights of Kings
 Equality before the law
 Theory of Social Contract
 Right to rebel against unjust government
 Theory of natural Rights
 Religious tolerance
 Checks and balances in Government
 The Development of Constitutionalism
 Laissez-Faire and the attacks on Mercantilism
 Popular Sovereignty
 Limited government
 Separation of Powers

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