enlightenment thinkers grade 9

jean-jacques rousseau

social contract, people sacrifice natural freedoms to get protection from the government. 

thomas hobbes

people are naturally selfish and a society needs laws for protection. wrote leviathan.

john locke

nature over nurture + people have natural rights that they are born with that the government must protect.

baron de montesquieu

didn’t believe in freedom of speech, everyone should follow the law, british government (king, parliament, courts) is peak

voltaire

hated monarchy, separation of church and state, believed in reason, justice, religious tolerance, individual rights

cesare beccaria

punishment should only be used to prevent future crimes, the accused have rights too

mary wollstone-craft

advocated for women’s rights, women should be allowed to contribute to society and make their own decisions

william blackstone

english government and liberty is peak, everyone should follow the same legal system