Political Philosophers

Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes

He was an English philosopher who wrote Leviathan in 1651.

Thomas Hobbes

He believed that people were naturally selfish and thought that absolute monarchies were needed to keep order

John Locke

He was an English philosopher between 1632-1704

John Locke

He believed in a social contract between government and the people where the people kept the natural rights and government should protect those rights

Baron de Montesquieu

He was a French philosophe during the 1700's who wrote The Spirit of the Laws

Baron de Montesquieu

He believed that the best form of government had three branches with separation of powers

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He was a French philosophe who wrote The Social contract in 1762

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He believed that people were corrupted by society and argued for a political system based on the will of the people

Voltaire

He was a French philosophe during the Enlightenment period who wrote Candide

Voltaire

He ridiculed bigotry and prejudice and supported freedom of expression

Mary Wollstonecraft

She was an English author who wrote The Vindication of Women in 1792

Mary Wollstonecraft

She was an early feminist who called for equal rights for women

John Locke

He had a strong influence on the Declaration of Independence

Baron de Montesquieu

He had a strong influence on the United States Constitution

Voltaire

He had a strong influence on the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Mary Wollstonecraft

She had a strong influence on the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He had a strong influence on the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

Thomas Hobbes

He had a strong influence on the Federalist papers

Denis Diderot

He allowed the thoughts of leading philosophers to be read throughout Europe

Denis Diderot

He was a French philosophe who co-edited The Encyclopedia between 1751-1772