Enlightenment Thinkers and Political Theory (Hobbes, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Beccaria, Wollstonecraft)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and works from the notes on major Enlightenment thinkers (Hobbes, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Beccaria, Wollstonecraft).

17th‑century English philosopher who argued humans are naturally selfish and wicked; without a strong sovereign life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short'; advocates a social contract leading to an absolute monarchy (Leviathan, 1651).

Leviathan (1651)

political treatise that justifies a powerful sovereign to maintain peace and order.

Social contract (Hobbes)

Agreement in which people surrender rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order.

Absolute monarchy

A government in which a single ruler holds unlimited power; Hobbes's preferred form.

French Enlightenment writer and satirist who criticized clergy, aristocracy, and government; championed tolerance, reason, freedom of speech and religion.

Tolerance

Acceptance of different opinions and beliefs; a central Enlightenment value

Freedom of speech

Right to express one's opinions publicly without censorship.

Freedom of religion

Right to practice any religion or none.

Philosopher who argued for separation of powers and checks and balances; influenced the U.S. Constitution.

On the Spirit of Laws (1748)

book proposing the separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Separation of powers

Dividing government into separate branches to prevent tyranny.

Checks and balances

Systems that allow each branch to limit the others’ power.

Philosopher who argued civilization corrupts natural goodness and advocated direct democracy guided by the general will.

The Social Contract (1762)

a work proposing legitimacy comes from the general will and direct democracy.

General will

The collective will of the people that should guide government.

Direct democracy

Government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Natural goodness

idea that people are inherently good in a natural state, corrupted by civilization.

Abolish nobility

call to end hereditary privileges and noble privileges.

18th‑century reformer who argued for criminal justice reform, opposing torture and capital punishment; advocated fair, speedy trials and proportional punishment.

Criminal justice reform

Efforts to make the justice system fairer, more humane, and focused on social order.

Opposed torture

stance against torture in pursuit of justice.

Opposed capital punishment

stance against the death penalty.

Due process / fair and speedy trials

recommendation for fair, prompt judicial proceedings and proportionate punishment.

English writer who argued for women's rights and education; author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792).

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

a work advocating women's education and equality.

Women’s education

idea that women need education to be virtuous and useful.

Gender equality

Idea that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

Women in politics and medicine

women to participate in politics and medicine as part of gender equality.