Enlightenment Philosophers

What was the Enlightenment

New ideas in government and politics

People begin questioning the need for all powerful kings

Can people chose leaders for themselves?

“All people are created equal”New (and potentially dangerous) concept

Dangerous to who?

Thomas Hobbes

Notice the title of Hobbes’ book

What is a Leviathan?

What do you think Hobbes was trying to say about government based on the title of his book?

Leviathan!!

Hobbes

From England

Wrote Leviathan

-Observation: People are generally bad

Life without strong government is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, & short.”

-Hypothesis: Absolute government is needed to control evil behavior Not the same as but not divine right

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

-Observation: gov’t exists to “preserve life, liberty, & property”-Hypothesis: people should be sovereign (rule)-Hypothesis: monarchs not chosen by God

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

John Locke

From: England

Wrote: Two Treatises on Government

Montesquieu

-Observation: “When the legislature & executive are united in the same person, there is no liberty (freedom)”

-Hypothesis: Gov’t must have “Separation of Powers” -- 3 branches

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

From: France

Wrote: “The Spirit of Laws”

Rousseau

-Observation: “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.”-Hypothesis: Gov’t is contract between people & rulers. People can break it (rebel)

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

From: France

Wrote: The Social Contract

Voltaire

-Observation: Life is better with liberty

-Hypothesis: Freedom of speech & religion, separation of church & state

-“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. “

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

From: France

People of the Enlightenment -1600s & 1700s

Locke

Hobbes

Montesquieu

Rousseau

Voltaire

Name From Wrote Main Ideas