1. Enlightenment Philosophers
Age of Reason
Enlightenment Philosophers

2. Reason: Enlightenment thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking.
Nature: The philosophers believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable.
Happiness: The philosophers rejected the medieval notion that people should find joy in the hereafter and urged people to seek well-being on earth.
Progress: The philosophers stressed that society and humankind could improve.
Liberty: The philosophers called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights.

3. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) England Leviathan (1651)
People are naturally cruel, greedy, selfish
Life: “nasty, brutish, short”
Social contract
Absolute monarchy

4. John Locke (1632-1704) England Two Treatises of Government (1690)
Natural rights – right to life, liberty, and property
Government has obligation to those governed
Use reason and revolution if necessary
Limited power

5. Voltaire (1694-1778) France Candide Freedom of speech Need for change
Against corrupt officials, slavery, religious persecution “

6. Montesquieu France The Spirit of the Laws (1748) Separation of powers
Reason and morality are the law
Influenced American government

7. Rousseau (1712-1778) France The Social Contract (1762)
People are naturally good
“general will”
Power lies with the people
democracy

8. Diderot France Encyclopedia Articles criticizing slavery, divine right
Freedom of expression