Enlightenment Thinkers

Voltaire

Strong advocate for freedom of speech and other civil rights.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocated for the rights of women. Believed women are rational beings.

Cesare Beccaria

Italian criminologist. Advocate for more rational punishments -- the idea of no cruel and unusual punishments. 

Baron de Montesquieu

Argues for rationalism and reason in the purpose of the law. Suggested that governments have a separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) 

Adam Smith

Observed that human selfishness is useful for an economy. (an “invisible hand”) Advocated for the end of mercantilism. 

Denis Diderot

Co-founder and major contributor to “Encyclopédie”. Included engineering and scientific topics including some ideas thought to questioning the ideas of miracles.

HOBBES (Best form of Government)

Ruler (the Leviathan) with absolute power. Not based in religion -  politics should be separate from ruling. 

HOBBES (Human Nature)

Greedy and fearful. Will live in chaos when humans are in their natural state. Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

HOBBES (Social Contract)

A strong ruler is to provide order therefore people can live a life of reason

LOCKE (Social Contract)

If govt does not protect people’s rights, then people should revolt. Men are free until they consent to a government. BUT - can’t simply do what you want -- must think of others. 

LOCKE (Best form of Government)

Constitutional monarchy -- a King/Queen’s power should be limited by the people. Govt should protect freedom of religion

LOCKE (Human Nature)

All people were born good and given natural rights by god (life, liberty, and owning property) 

ROUSSEAU (Human Nature)

Basically good, but society corrupts them. 

Should be allowed to experience and explore life. Should be well rounded, freethinking, and show emotions including children

ROUSSEAU (Best form of Government)

Agree to defend and protect the community, but the individual remains free. 

ROUSSEAU (Social Contract)

If a govt violates the “social pact”, then it is dissolved. Everyone is equal within the agreement. Under the supervision of the “general will” 

What is the Enlightenment?

An 18th-century European intellectual and cultural movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism over tradition and faith.