1. Age of Reason
Top 10 Philosophies

2. The state is founded upon an agreement among people, gives its citizens basic rights (life, liberty & property)

3. Rise of the middle-class in politics and culture who supported social equality & justice, and a revamping of society as a whole

4. Humans are free and equal in nature

5. Political, religious, and economic institutions should be reformed to help man derive happiness

6. Each citizen has right to vote, and votes on laws in accord with the General Will (what is best for community).

7. Believed government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another.

8. Promoted idea that Separation of Powers provided an adequate defense against tyrants

9. The rejection of the doctrine of original sin; man was not depraved but perfectible.

10. A belief in Humanism which was the idea that a human being becomes a better person through the study and practice of literature, music, philosophy, and the arts. Thus, a human could be “perfected”.

11. Believed nature was orderly and fundamentally good