Philosophe’s Chart

Immanuel Kant Germany The Critique of Pure Reason 1781 The first to use the word Enlightenment to describe the Age of Reason. He was skeptical about reason but was enthusiastic that natural law could help explain aspects of humanity

Thomas Hobbes England Leviathan 1651 People were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish People needed to be strictly controlled. Man in a state of nature is at war People created social contracts because only a powerful government could ensure an organized society.

Hobbes “Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Absolute power was needed to preserve order in society.

John Locke England Two Treatise 1690 People formed governments to protect their natural rights: life, liberty, and property. Only governments with limited power, which are accepted by all citizens, protected the natural rights of the people. Power of government comes from the governed.

Locke Governments main responsibility is to protect the people (security) When government fails, the governed have a right to over throw it. Absolutism was illegitimate form of government. Contract between government and people: social contract

Locke Tabula rasa: blank slate State of nature: equality and freedom. Influenced Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and US Constitution

Montesquieu France Spirit of the Laws 1748 Believed in protecting liberty by dividing the various functions and powers of government among three branches: Executive ~ Legislative ~ Judicial Proposed a system of checks and balances Advocated the idea of separation of powers in government.

Denis Diderot France Encyclopedia (Editor ) Edited and published the Encyclopedia Purpose was to change the general way of thinking. Spread the ideas of the Enlightenment. (printing press).

Diderot Denounced slavery, praised freedom of expression and urged education for all. Attacked divine right theory and traditional religions Agreed with religious toleration.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau France Emile 1762 Social Contract 1762 “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” Promoted the idea that people in their natural state were essentially good Social contract: entire society agrees to be governed by its general will.

Rousseau “The good of a community as a whole should be placed above individual interests” Evils of society corrupted people

Voltaire France Candide 1759 Toleration 1763 “My trade is to say what I think” Used his writings to fight ignorance, superstition, and intolerance Detested the slave trade, felt all were equal. Moved/exiled to England because of their religious toleration..

Voltaire Deism: “universe is like a clock, and god the clock maker" God sets it in motion and does not interfere.

Adam Smith Scotland The Wealth of Nations 1776 Free markets should be allowed to regulate business activity. Strong supporter of laissez faire (hands-off)- allowing business to operate with little of no governmental interference. Tried to show how manufacturing, trade, wages, profits and economic growth were all linked to the market forces of supply and demand.

Smith Supply and demand- wherever there was a demand for goods or services suppliers would seek to meet the demand in order to gain profits. Government had a duty to protect society, administer justice and provide public works