1. Enlightenment Philosophers
European Philosophers in the 1600s and 1700s

2. Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679, English
Lived through the English Civil War ( ); this influenced many of his ideas
Human nature: people are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish
The Leviathan (1621) was his most famous work.

3. All men fear death and will do whatever necessary to prevent it, including killing others.
This keeps the world constantly in conflict and war – not in man’s best interest.
Social contract: an agreement by which people give up their freedom for an organized society and to prevent anarchy
Only a powerful government (absolute monarch) can ensure an orderly society where people do not continually kill others. This is in everyone’s best interest.
The Leviathan

4. John Locke
, English
People are basically reasonable and moral.
Wrote Two Treatises of Government (1690)
Wrote the Treatises to defend the Glorious Revolution of when William and Mary peacefully overtook the English throne from King James II

5. Two Treatises of Government
Labor is a natural right of man. Labor is the way men acquire property. This property is then a natural right to man as well.
Natural rights: rights that belong to all humans from birth including life, liberty, and property
People form governments to protect their natural rights. The best government is limited in power and accepted by all citizens (social contract).
Believed people were basically moral
Influence later seen in Declaration of Independence

6. Baron de Montesquieu 1689-1755, French
Greatly influenced by the success of the Glorious Revolution and the passing of the throne from powerful Louis XIV to weak Louis XV
Balanced view of people; they can be good and bad.
Wrote The Spirit of the Laws (1748)

7. Spirit of the Laws
Studied governments all of Europe, China, and Native American cultures
Three types of government:
Monarchies (principle of honor)
Republics (principle of virtue)
Despotism (principle of fear)
“Government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another."
Branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial
Separating the powers of government is the best way to protect liberty for the people and keep government officials from fearing each other.

8. Voltaire 1694-1779, French Candide is his most famous work.
Fought for civil rights: protections
and privileges of personal power given
to all citizens by the law of a government
Most concerned with the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion
Rejected the ancien régime (unfair balance of power among the three levels of society) for their hypocrisy and injustices
Used sharp wit to criticize abuse by corrupt officials, aristocrats and clergy
“I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

9. Denis Diderot
, French
Had great confidence in the “lower classes”; all people have the ability to learn
Wrote Encyclopédie despite the intense controversy surrounding it
Government burned copies and Church threatened readers with excommunication

10. Encyclopédie
28 volumes
Included articles by leading Enlightenment thinkers
His purpose was “to change the general way of thinking” by explaining ideas of government, philosophy, and religion
Aristocracy disliked the Encyclopédie because it included ideas like religious tolerance and freedom of thought that undermined their authority.
Claimed that “the main concern of the nation's government ought to be the nation's common people.”
Denounced slavery
Pro free speech

11. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
, French
Believed that people were basically good in the state of nature, but corrupted by society
Wrote The Social Contract
"Man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains.”

12. The Social Contract
Society puts men in competition with one another but also makes them dependent on each other.
This problem can be overcome by a social contract: people give up some rights to a government to achieve order
General will: the best conscience of the people– the majority should always work toward the common goal
Individual should be subordinate to the community

13. Mary Wollstonecraft
According to male Enlightenment thinkers, women had limited natural rights
In A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792), Mary Wollstonecraft proposed that even though women’s first duty was motherhood, they were not dependent on men
Argued girls should receive the same education as boys so that they could be on the same playing field.

14. Impact of the Enlightenment
People began to questions established beliefs and customs.
Encouraged changes to government which led to Revolutions in America, France, and Latin America
Many writers such as Voltaire were thrown into prison and their books were banned and burned.
Many church leaders defended the established system and censored those who taught new ideas.
Importance of the individual– promoted progress through reason and logic
Belief in progress through social equality and improvements in education