Enlightenment Enlightenment PhilosophersPhilosophers
(philosophes) (philosophes)
I. Thomas HobbesI. Thomas Hobbes
A. 1588-1679, EnglishA. 1588-1679, EnglishB. Human nature: B. Human nature: 1. people are 1. people are naturally naturally
cruel, greedy, and cruel, greedy, and selfishselfishC. Wrote C. Wrote The LeviathanThe Leviathan
C. Wrote C. Wrote The LeviathanThe Leviathan 1. people fear death and will do whatever 1. people fear death and will do whatever necessary to stay alivenecessary to stay alive a. world in constant war a. world in constant war 2. Social contract 2. Social contract
a. agreement that people will give up a. agreement that people will give up their their freedom for an organized societyfreedom for an organized society 3. Only an absolute monarch (powerful 3. Only an absolute monarch (powerful government) can make sure people do government) can make sure people do not killnot kill
II. John LockeII. John Locke
A. 1632-1704, EnglishA. 1632-1704, English
B. People are mostly B. People are mostly reasonablereasonable
and moral and moral
C. Wrote C. Wrote Two Treatises of Two Treatises of GovernmentGovernment
C. Wrote C. Wrote Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government
1. Labor 1. Labor (working) (working) is a natural right of man is a natural right of man
a. Labor is the way men get property a. Labor is the way men get property
b. property is a natural right to man as wellb. property is a natural right to man as well
2. Natural rights2. Natural rights
a. rights that belong to all humans from birtha. rights that belong to all humans from birth
3. People form governments to protect 3. People form governments to protect
their natural rights their natural rights
4. best government is limited in power and4. best government is limited in power and
all citizens will follow the laws (social all citizens will follow the laws (social contract)contract)
III. Baron de III. Baron de MontesquieuMontesquieu
A. 1689-1755, FrenchA. 1689-1755, French
B. Balanced view of peopleB. Balanced view of people
1. they can be good and 1. they can be good and bad.bad.
C. Wrote C. Wrote The Spirit of the The Spirit of the LawsLaws
C. Wrote C. Wrote The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws
1. Three types of government:1. Three types of government: a. Monarchies - a. Monarchies -
b. Republics -b. Republics -
c. Despotism/tyranny -c. Despotism/tyranny -
2. Branches of government: 2. Branches of government:
a. legislative -a. legislative -
b. executive - b. executive -
c. judicial -c. judicial -
3. Separating the powers of government is the best 3. Separating the powers of government is the best way way
to protect liberty for people and stop the to protect liberty for people and stop the
government from abusing powergovernment from abusing power
IV. VoltaireIV. Voltaire
A. 1694-1779, FrenchA. 1694-1779, FrenchB. Fought for civil rights B. Fought for civil rights 1. given to all citizens by 1. given to all citizens by the law of a governmentthe law of a government 2. Most important is the right to a fair 2. Most important is the right to a fair trial and trial and freedom of religionfreedom of religion
V. Jean-Jacques V. Jean-Jacques RousseauRousseau
A. 1712-1778, FrenchA. 1712-1778, French
B. Believed that B. Believed that people were people were
basically good in basically good in the state the state
of nature, but of nature, but corrupted corrupted
by societyby society
C. Wrote C. Wrote The Social The Social ContractContract
C. Wrote C. Wrote The Social ContractThe Social Contract
1. Society forces men to compete with each other1. Society forces men to compete with each other
but they also need each others help to survivebut they also need each others help to survive
2. the social contract will solve this problem2. the social contract will solve this problem
a. people give up some rights to a government to a. people give up some rights to a government to
achieve orderachieve order
3. General will3. General will
a. conscience a. conscience (tells you what is right and wrong) (tells you what is right and wrong)
of the peopleof the people
4. People will obey the laws of the general will 4. People will obey the laws of the general will
because they helped to write the law and the because they helped to write the law and the
laws also make sure they survivelaws also make sure they survive
"Man is born "Man is born free, and he is free, and he is everywhere in everywhere in chains.”chains.”
Comparing Locke and Comparing Locke and JeffersonJefferson
What words/phrases do they have in What words/phrases do they have in common?common?
What three ideas of Locke’s does What three ideas of Locke’s does Jefferson use?Jefferson use?
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