1. Enlightenment Philosophers
Who were the thinkers of the time period &what were their basic beliefs?

2. Natural Laws: laws that govern human nature
Progress and Reason
Natural Laws: laws that govern human nature

3. Thomas Hobbes People are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish
Humans must be strictly controlled
Life in the "state of nature" was cruel and unkind
Individuals enter a social contract- give up the state of nature in order to form a more organized society
A powerful government is necessary in order to impose order
Absolute monarchy

4. John Locke Separation of Church and State
People are born as "blank slates"
People are basically good- reasonable and moral
Natural Rights (life, liberty, property)
Government should protect
Gov should have limited power, with the approval of all citizens
Right to Revolution

5. -An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
"Our observation, employed either about external sensible objects, or about the internal operations of our minds, perceived and reflected on by ourselves, is that which supplies our understandings with all the materials of thinking. These are the fountains of knowledge, from whence all ideas we have, or can naturally have, do spring"
-An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
John Locke 1690

6. Montesquieu Separation of Powers
Government power must be divided in order to protect liberty
Punishments must fit the nature of the crime

7. Voltaire
Goal: to target abuse and corruption within government society
Against the slave trade and religious intolerance
Against torture and the death penalty

8. Rousseau Grew up poor=uncomfortable with luxury
People in their natural state are inherently good
Evils of society (unequal distribution of wealth) creates corruption
Society creates too many limitations on individuals
Minimal controls should be used over individuals
Governments should be freely elected and represent the general will over individual interests
Women are subordinate to men