Origins of DemocracyEnlightenment Thinkers

Enlightenment 18th century European

movement

Tries to apply science and reason to all aspects of life

Thomas HobbesWrote a book called Leviathan in 1651

Hobbes QuotationQuote from Leviathan:

“The condition of man [in the state of nature] …is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.”

Hobbes’ Main Ideas People are selfish and greedy Social Contract - To avoid chaos, people give

up freedom to a government that will ensure order

The government must be strong and able to put down rebellion

Hobbes’ Connections Today His ideas are used to justify absolute power

Many people today think Hobbes’ ideas are a bleak, but true view of how people and governments behave

John LockeWrote Two

Treatises on Government in 1690

John Locke Quotation Quote from Two Treatises on Government:

“Men being… by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political power of another without his own consent.”

Locke’s Main Ideas Natural rights-right to life,

liberty, and property. (Every person has them)

Rulers have a responsibility to protect those rights

People have the right to change a government that fails to protect those rights

Locke’s Connection Today Locke’s ideas influenced revolutions around

the world and the authors of the US Declaration of Independence

Later, people extended his ideas to include equality for women and others

Baron de MontesquieuWrote The Spirit

of the Laws in 1748

Montesquieu Quotation“In order to have… liberty, it is necessary that government be set up so that one man need not be afraid of another.”

Montesquieu’s Main Ideas The powers of government should be

separated into 3 parts: Executive Legislative

Judicial Prevent any one group from gaining too much

power

Montesquieu-Connections Today US has three branches of government and checks

and balances (limit on power)

Jean-Jacques RousseauWrote a book

calledThe Social Contract

Rousseau Quotation“Only the general will can direct the energies of the state in a manner appropriate to the end for which it was founded, i.e., the common good.”

Rousseau Main Ideas People are basically good, but become

corrupted by society.

In an ideal society, people would make the laws and would obey them willingly.

Good of community should be put above individual

Rousseau Connections Today Rousseau is considered a champion of

democracy because of his ideas that political authority lies with the people

Voltaire“My trade is to say what I think”

Voltaire Wrote 200 books, 2000 pamphlets Exposed abuses-corrupt officials, slave

trade, religious prejudice, freedom of speech

Exiled for ideas

Connection to today First amendment-Freedom of speech Freedom of religion