Enlightenment People

Grotius

natural laws- give legitimacy to gov, valid even wo God

Boudin

compared govs, said monarchy is best- laid ground for absolutism

Beccaria

end torture and death penalty

Locke

life, liberty, property- limited gov, naturals rights, tabula rasa

Hobbes

ppl are naturally evil, absolute power to control human natural state, gov keeps ppl in line

Descartes

human nature can unravel secrets of nature and prove God, scientific method

Voltaire

reason, freedom of speech, religious tolerance

Rousseau

social contract between ppl and gov, ppl born good but become flawed due to society

Adam Smith

modern capitalism, free markets make best of individual efforts

Montesquieu

separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial), checks and balances