Let’s play name that…
Enlightenment philosopher!
 The
best government would be
composed of three branches: an
executive, a legislature, and a
judiciary. Each branch should
have some means of checking, or
limiting, the power of the other
two.
Montesquieu
 Humans
have certain natural
rights that were inalienable –
that is, they could never be
taken away. These rights are
life, liberty, property.
Locke
 Author
of Candide
Voltaire
The government has an
obligation to protect people’s
lives and property. When the
government no longer meets
that obligation, it is okay for
people to overthrow it and
create a new government.
Locke
 People
are basically evil. In
fact, the only reason people
don’t kill each other all the
time is because a powerful
government is there to stop
them.
Hobbes
Author
of The Social
Contract
Rousseau
 He
inspired the framers of the
U.S. Constitution, who
established three separate
branches of the national
government.
Montesquieu
 Supporter
of freedom of
speech and freedom of
religion
Voltaire
 Author
of Two Treatises on
Government
Locke
 Author
of Spirit of the Laws
Montesquieu
 Author
of Leviathan
Hobbes
 Thomas
Jefferson directly
borrowed his ideas for the
Declaration of Independence.
Locke
 An
absolute monarchy is the
best system for controlling the
people.
Hobbes
 People
make a kind of bargain,
or social contract. They agree to
give up some of their freedom to
a government; in return, they
receive order and security.
Hobbes