Important philosophers, ideas, and connections to modern society Enlightenment Important philosophers, ideas, and connections to modern society

WICKED SMAHT PEOPLE! Shaped British and other European societies’ philosophies Influenced government, trade, and social structures Are men inherently good? Why are we here? What should the role of government be? Will government ever truly represent the people’s interests?

Music Links Aretha Franklin, “Respect” ZZ Top, “Bad to the Bone” Beatles, “Revolution” Pink Floyd, “Money”

Thomas Hobbes Modern founder of ‘social contract’ tradition Life in state of nature = “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” Needs a strong central government to keep people in order Men must forfeit some personal freedoms for the benefit of having a strong ruler who maintains a peaceful and orderly society

John Locke Blank slate theory Natural rights Man has the right to overthrow a ruler who does not protect those rights

Voltaire Tolerance Freedom of speech and religion

Montesquieu Separation of government Checks and balances

Rousseau Noble Savage Ideas on education Social contract General Will Morality is natural; instinctive disinclination to witness suffering  compassion and empathy Ideas on education Social contract General Will If you submit to the authority of the general will of the people as a whole guarantees individuals against being subordinated to the wills of others and also ensures that they obey themselves because they are, collectively, the authors of the law.

Adam Smith Capitalism The invisible hand Market metaphor: marketplace will self-regulate; individuals can make profit and maximize it without the need for government intervention

Mary Wollstonecraft Women’s rights

Cesare Becarria Opposed torture

Benjamin Franklin Rene Descartes Immanuel Kant Isaac Newton Thomas Paine

Music Links Aretha Franklin, “Respect” ZZ Top, “Bad to the Bone” Beatles, “Revolution” Pink Floyd, “Money”