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

  </p>

\