Philosophically Correct

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on Enlightenment thinkers and their contributions to political philosophy.

Enlightenment

A European intellectual movement from 1715 to 1789 characterized by questioning traditional ideas about political power and government.

Monarchy

The dominant form of government in Europe where a single ruler holds power, contrasted with democracy.

Scientific Revolution

A period of advancements from 1543 to 1688 that emphasized reason and evidence over superstition in understanding the natural world.

Political Science

The study of government and politics, influenced by Enlightenment philosophers.

Niccolò Machiavelli

A philosopher known for his pragmatic approach to power in his book The Prince, advocating the need for rulers to be feared rather than loved.

Social Contract

An agreement among individuals to give up certain freedoms for protection and order under a chosen leader.

Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher who emphasized a strong central authority and described life in a state of nature as 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.'

State of Nature

A philosophical concept describing human existence without government or social structure.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that all individuals possess, including life, liberty, and property, as described by John Locke.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that a government’s legitimacy comes from the agreement of those it governs, a principle significant in Locke's philosophy.

Montesquieu

A political philosopher who wrote about various forms of government and advocated for the separation of powers.

Rule of Law

The principle that all people, including government officials, are subject to the law.

Checks and Balances

A system that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A philosopher who proposed the idea of direct democracy and critiqued the inequalities fostered by society.

Direct Democracy

A system of government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than through elected representatives.