Enlightenment Thinkers

Hobbs

• Need to enter into a social contract

• people are cruel, greedy and selfish by nature people need to be controlled

•  organized society 

• absolute monarch

Locke

• people are basically reasonable and more

•  people have natural rights - belonging to all humans from birth

• includes life, liberty and property (French)

• life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (American - protected by Bill of Rights, Individual Rights

•  people formed governments to protect these rights

• government should have limited powers

•  accepted by all citizens

• government has obligations to the people it governs

•  if a government abuses these natural rights, people have the right and responsibility to overthrow or change it right to revolution

Montesquieu 

• separation of powers (Legislative, Judicial, Executive)

• checks and balances

Voltaire

• defended principle of free speech

Rousseau

• people were basically good

• some controls are necessary

• government should be freely elected

• individuals are subordinate to community

Wollstonecraft

• women's rights

Adam Smith

• Laissez-Faire → hands off (business)

• Government should stay out of business

Government should protect society

• Administer justice and provide for public works

Cesare Beccaria

• No cruel or unusual punishments