enlightenment (copy)

  • john locke- british, argued that every person was born with a blank mind (tabula rosa) and is molded by their experiences

  • isaac newton- believed the world operated according to natural laws that could be investigated

  • influenced the belief that scientific method would improve society

  • baron de montesquieu- wrote spirit of the laws

  • said british government system of checks and balances between branches gives freedom/security to the state

  • voltaire- criticized the church and created deism (religious philosophy based on reason/natural law, said that god created earth and left it like a clock)

  • diderot- published the encyclopedia

  • attacked religious superstition

  • supported religious tolerance

  • weapon against old french society

  • physiocrats-

  • wanted to find economic laws that governed society

  • believed society would benefit from people pursuing their own economic self-interest

  • state should leave economy alone

  • adam smith- wrote wealth of nations

  • government should protect from invasion, protect from injustice, and keep up things individuals can’t

  • rousseau- wrote the social construct

  • idea that all of society should go by general will

  • emotions AND reason were important

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