The
Enlightenment
The Age of Reason
The Age of Enlightenment
• 1700’s
• Rationalism-belief that human nature could
be logically explained using reason & the
Scientific Method
• Ideas about secularism and individualism
• Enlightenment thinkers were called
Philosophes
Thomas Hobbes
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Believed in the social contractpeople give up individual
liberties in return for social order
The natural condition of humans
is one of continuous conflict and
competition
Supporter of absolute monarchy
Believed anarchy to be a state
of nature.
Wrote Leviathan (1651)
Said life is “solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short”.
John Locke
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Believed in individual rights
– Life
– Liberty
– Property
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People would not-and could notwillingly surrender their
fundamental natural rights.
Government existed to protect
those rights, & if they didn’t, it
should be overthrown.
Supporter of Democracy
Wrote Two Treatises on
Government
Baron de Montesquieu
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His idea of checks and
balances would influence
the U.S. Constitution
Saw humans life as a
comedy and satire.
Division of power into 3
branches
Climate and Circumstances
determine the form of
governments
Published The Spirit of the
Laws (1748)
Voltaire
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Strong supporter of Freedom of
Speech, Thought, & Religion
Humans are liars, traitors,
ingrates, thieves, misers, killers,
fanatics, hypocrites, fools and
so on. Yet, it’s normal.
Believed Gov’ts should ensure
personal freedoms
Satirist who wrote about the
French Monarchy, the nobility,
and the church
Candide & Philosophical Letters
Imprisoned twice in France for
his views
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Believed in Popular
Sovereignty
Argued people are naturally
good, but society corrupts them
through environment, education
and laws.
Opposed strong government.
Government created and
controlled by the people.
Did not trust reason believing
that it brought corruption and
misery.
Published The Social Contract
(1762)
Denis Diderot
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Combine articles of leading
Philosophes covering every
subject possible.
Leading philosophes of the
time contributed articles on
everything from criticizing
aspects of society, the
church, government, the
slave trade, torture, taxes,
and war
Created The Encyclopedia
Mary Wollstonecraft
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Early spokesperson for Women’s
Rights
Argued the ideals of equality should
be extended to women as well as
men.
Governments should extend political
rights to women as well
Women should also enjoy
educational freedoms as well
Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman (1792)