11/12 quiz (hobbes, locke, montesquieu, voltaire, rousseau)

hobbes and locke

• 17th century thinkers

• ideas became key to the Enlightenment (European intellectual movement emphasizing reassn, science, natural law)

• lived through the English Civil War

• had different conclusions about human nature and gov.

hobbes

created the Leviathan

hobbes

people are naturally cruel, greedy, selfish

hobbes

without control, humans would fight, rob, and oppress each other

hobbes

life in the state of nature (without laws/control) would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"

hobbes

to escape the "brutish life" people entered a social contract (give up freedom for organized society)

hobbes

only a powerful government can ensure an orderly society

hobbes

favored absolute moncarchy (impose order and compel obedience)

locke

created the Two Treatises of Government

locke

more optimistic view on human nature

locke

people are basically reasonable and moral

locke

humans have natural rights from birth (life, liberty, property)

locke

government exists to protect natural rights

locke

best government had limited power and accepted by all citizens

locke

rejected absolute monarchy

locke

thought James II (unpopular monarch) deserved to be dethroned for violating English rights

locke

gov has obligations to its people

locke

if gov fails its obligations or violates rights, ppl can overthrow it

locke

idea influenced leaders of the American Revolution (Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison)

locke

idea of right of revolution would spread across Europe and Latin America

montesquieu

born into wealth and inherited the title Baron de Montesquieu

montesquieu

did not let his privileged status keep him from being a voice for democracy

montesquieu

first book was Persian Letters (ridiculed the French gov and social classes)

montesquieu

has idea of separation of powers

montesquieu

studied governments of Europe (Italy to England), read about ancient/medieval Europe, and learned about Chinese and Native American cultures

montesquieu

criticized absolute monarchy

montesquieu

created The Spirit of the Laws (discussed governments throughout history)

montesquieu

felt that best way to protect liberty was to divide functions and powers of government

montesquieu

believed government powers should be divided among the 3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial

montesquieu

introduced concept of checks and balances (each branch can check the other to prevent abuse of power)

montesquieu

beliefs influenced Framers of the US Constitution

voltaire

poet, historian, essayist, and philosopher known for his cutting sarcasm and sharp wit

voltaire

sent to Bastille prison twice b/c he criticized French authorities and banned from Paris

voltaire

wrote about political and religious freedom

voltaire

spent life fighting ignorance, superstition, and intolerance

voltaire

defended freedom of thought

voltaire

quote: "My trade is to say what I think"

voltaire

one of the most famous philosophies

voltaire

used biting wit as weapon to expose abuses of his day

voltaire

targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats

voltaire

battled inequality, injustice, and superstition

voltaire

detested slave trade and deplored religious prejudice

voltaire

outspoken attack offended French government and Catholic Church

voltaire

imprisoned and forced into exile

voltaire

his books were outlawed and burned

voltaire

defended principle of freedom of speech

rousseau

believed that ppl in their natural state were basically good

rousseau

felt that society's natural innocence was corrupted by evils of society (unequal distribution of property)

rousseau

influenced American and French revolutionary thinkers like Thomas Paine and Marquid de Lafayette

rousseau

created The Social Contract (1762) where he expressed his ideas about gov and society

rousseau

believed that society has too many limitations on ppl's behavior

rousseau

believed that some controls were necessary but should be minimal

rousseau

governments must be freely elected

rousseau

put his faith in the "general will" (best conscience of the ppl)

rousseau

good of the community over individual interests

rousseau

influenced political and social thinkers for >200 eyars

rousseau

in his work is hatred of all forms of political and economic oppression