Essay Question 4

4. One of the key ideas which emerged during the Enlightenment was that of progress.  What, specifically, was meant by the concept of progress, as it related to human nature and to human societies?  Why and how did the philosophes and other eighteenth century thinkers arrive at their belief that human civilization could progress?  Were all of them similarly optimistic?

• Thomas Hobbes
  • Man is selfish by nature
  • Monarchy relies on the loyalty of people
  • Denied rights of peasants to rebel
• Voltaire
  • Attacks on the established Catholic Church and Christianity
  • Saw the ruling and social system as broken
• Montesquieu
  • Separation of Powers
  • "To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them"