Enlightenment Thinkers Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcards about Enlightenment Thinkers and their key ideas.

Thomas Hobbes

Born in England in 1588, wrote Leviathan, believed man is born selfish, advocated for a social contract where people surrender freedoms for protection, and supported absolute monarchy.

Leviathan

A book on government written by Thomas Hobbes.

Social Contract

An agreement where people willingly surrender their natural freedoms to a government for protection, but the government does not have divine right to rule.

John Locke

Born in England in 1632, died in 1704, wrote Two Treatises on Government, argued for natural rights (life, liberty, and property), believed people are born good, and favored a constitutional monarchy.

Life, Liberty, and Property

Natural rights all men are born with according to Locke.

Montesquieu

Born in France (1689-1755), divided government into three branches (executive, legislative, judicial), advocated for checks and balances, and believed only white men who owned property should have government jobs or vote.

Legislative Branch

Makes laws.

Executive Branch

Approves/enforces laws.

Judicial Branch

Interprets the laws and can overturn unjust ones.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Born in 1712, believed all men are created equal, thought society corrupts people, advocated for small and direct democracy, and argued "No man has a right to rule over other men."

3 main rights for women supported by Rousseau

Equality (vote), education, and divorce.

Voltaire

French nobleman who died in 1778, argued for freedom of speech and religion, popularized Deism, and wrote under a pen name.

Deism

The belief that God created the Earth but has walked away and wants us to solve our own problems.

Cesare Beccaria

Italian lawyer (1738-1794) who focused on criminal reform, such as ending torture, advocating for innocent until proven guilty, opposing the death penalty, and believing prisons should rehabilitate people.

Wollstonecraft

English Woman, died 1797, supporter of women's rights who believed women are socialized to be inferior, opened a school for women, and whose daughter wrote Frankenstein.