Enlightenment Thinkers

Enlightenment Thinkers

1. Montesquieu

   • Three branches of law
     • Legislature
     • Kings
     • Judiciary
   • Checks
   • Balances

2. Hobbes

   • Pessimism
   • People will fight if left alone
   • Ruled cannot rebel
     • Absolute monarchy
   • Life
     • Brutish
     • Short
     • Nasty

3. Locke

   • Optimism
   • People are reasonable
     • Will co-operate
   • government=agreement between people and ruler
     • Can rebel if contract is broken
   • Basic rights
     • Life
     • Property
     • Liberty

4. Voltaire

   • Rulers strong but Enlightened
     • Educated
     • Protected basic rights of people
   • Religious Toleration
   • Freedom of thought
   • “I may not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

5. Rousseau

   • Human is born good
     • Society corrupts
   • Majority Will
     • General Will
   • “Man is born free, and everywhere is in chains”