Old, Dead, White Guys

Hobbes

• Believed people were inherently evil → needed a government to establish social order etc

• First '“proposer” of heirarchal, organized government and social contract ideas

Locke

• Believed people were inherently good

• Rejected divine right of kings → believed in democracy

  • Government to protect the rights of the people (life, liberty, property) → should have the power to punish violators

• Freedom of religion

• Supported revolting against government if ineffective

Montesquieu

• Believed in checks of power (criticized monarchies)

  • Branches of government that were responsible for different aspects of ruling (Judicial, Executive, Legislative)

Rousseau

• Believed people were inherently good but corrupted

• Against representative democracy → wanted direct influence on laws (direct democracy)

• Wrote the Social Contract → Follow the laws if you want to retain rights

Voltaire

• Very devoted to freedom of expression/speech

Diderot

• Wrote the first encyclopedia → widespread access to information