Enlightenment Thinkers Flashcards
Who were the enlightenment thinkers?
Thomas Hobbes; John Locke; Montesquieu; JJR; Voltaire; Adam Smith
Enlightenment
An age of reason - Rational analysis; Believed in reason over faith
What did Thomas Hobbes write and why?
The Leviathan - In defense of divine rights of king
What were Thomas Hobbes ideas?
Divine rights of king = People are irrational + self-destructing; Need powerful government or else life would be “nasty”
What were John Locke’s ideas?
Natural rights - Contract theory of government = Power derives from the governed and that government could never take away natural rights of life, liberty, and property
What did Montesquieu write?
Spirit of the Laws
What were Montesquieu’s ideas?
Separation of powers in government (division into 3 branches) to prevent any one part or person from becoming oppressive; Political liberty in stable state
What were Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ideas?
Popular sovereignty = Power originates with the ruled - government serves the people
What did JJR write?
The Social Contract - people are born with certain natural rights and that people joined societies in order to advance their own interests, not sacrifice them
What were Voltaire’s ideas?
Freedom of thought in all forms: speech, religion, assembly, etc; Rational principles needed to achieve progress
What did Voltaire write?
Candidate
What were Adam Smith’s ideas?
Capitalism (economics) = Individuals were allowed to pursue their own interests with less government intervention; Laws of supply and demand
What did Adam Smith write?
Wealth of Nations - Individuals should make decisions about what to buy and sell based on their natural self-interest - more sufficient use of human labor
What didn’t Adam Smith like?
Mercantilism
Philosophes
Intellectuals in France who address their work to the public
