Enlightenment flashcards
Enlightenment
An intellectual and philosophical movement in 18th-century Europe emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional doctrines. It sought to reform society using scientific reasoning and to challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith.
Natural laws
Principles and laws that govern human nature and the physical world, believed to be universal and unchanging, and discoverable through reason and observation.
Absolute rule
A form of governance where a single ruler, often a monarch, holds all the power and authority, with no legal or institutional checks on their power.
Philosophes
Intellectuals of the 18th-century Enlightenment who promoted knowledge, reason, and ideas of political reform. They sought to apply reason to the study of many areas of learning, including philosophy, history, science, politics, and economics.
Thomas Hobbes
An English philosopher best known for his work “Leviathan,” where he argued that humans are naturally selfish and violent, and thus require a strong, central authority to maintain order and prevent chaos.
John Locke
An English philosopher who argued that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that the role of government is to protect these rights. He is known for his works “Two Treatises of Government.”
Voltaire
A French writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit, advocacy of civil liberties, and criticism of the Catholic Church and French institutions. He promoted freedom of speech, religion, and separation of church and state.
Rousseau
A French philosopher who wrote “The Social Contract,” arguing that government should be based on the general will of the people and that sovereignty belongs to the people. He believed in the fundamental goodness of human nature.
Baron de Montesquieu
A French political philosopher who articulated the theory of separation of powers in his work “The Spirit of the Laws,” arguing for a division of government into different branches to prevent tyranny and promote liberty.
Denis Diderot
A French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the “Encyclopédie,” a comprehensive work that aimed to gather and disseminate knowledge.
Mary Wollstonecraft
An English writer and advocate of women’s rights, best known for her work “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” where she argued for women’s education and equality.
Adam Smith
A Scottish economist and philosopher best known for his book “The Wealth of Nations,” where he laid the foundations for classical economics and advocated for free markets and the division of labor.
Wealth of Nations
A book by Adam Smith published in 1776, which is considered the founding work of modern economics. It discusses how free markets, competition, and the division of labor lead to prosperity and economic growth.
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, free markets, and the pursuit of profit. It relies on supply and demand to regulate prices and allocate resources.
Laissez-faire economic
An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention. It is based on the belief that economies function best when there is minimal interference from the government.
