Philosophers

Question 1

Who was Denis Diderot (1713-1784)?

Answer 1

• Published: Encyclopedia
• Attacked traditional Christian beliefs by focusing on science which was skeptical of traditional “science”
• Heavily censored
• Proclaimed faith in human nature and in the rights of man
• Aided by the printing press, the Encyclopedia was published and helped spread human knowledge to encourage free thought and reason

Question 2

Who was Montesquieu (1689-1755)?

Answer 2

• Published: Spirit of the Laws
  Advocated a separation of powers and 3 branches of gov
  This would help hold the gov accountable to the people
• View on Human Nature: Shared views similar to Locke (people are naturally good and society shapes their belief system)
• View on Gov:
  Powers of gov should be separated (constitutional gov – executive, legislative, and judicial branches – like Canada)
  The separate branches of gov will “balance” and “check” on one another

Question 3

Who was Voltaire (1694-1778)?

Answer 3

• Published: Letters on the English
• View on Human Nature: shared similar views to Locke regarding freedom of the individual
  Admired freedom of speech and religious tolerance
• View on Gov:
  Attacked absolutism and theocracy
  Despised the Idea of censorship
  Ideal gov was enlightened who safeguarded the rights of people to life, liberty, and property
  “I do not agree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it” - Voltaire

Question 4

Who was Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)?

Answer 4

• Published: The Social Contract
• View on Human Nature:
  Humans are naturally good
  Through life, humans become intelligent and moral beings
  No one person has much natural authority over another (equality of individual freedom)
• View on Gov:
  Gov are cruel – the strong rule the weak w/o any regard for them
  Govs should enter into a social contract with their citizens
  The gov holds power only with permission of its people and in the people’s best interest
  If a ruler violated the rights of its citizens, it has lost the right to rule and can be overthrown by rebellion
  “Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains” - Rousseau

Question 5

Who is John Locke?

Answer 5

• Published “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
• View of Human Nature:
  Humans are born free and equal
  The childs mind is a blank slate (“tabula rasa”) at birth → learning is based on experience
  Humans are good by nature and possess natural rights such as the right to life, liberty, and ownership of property
  If we’re a “blank slate” then attitude and character should be taught and humanity could be shaped into a whole new form of society based on justice and reason
• View of Government:
  The Purpose of gov. Is to protect and foster the individuals rights and liberties
  Govs. should interfere as little as possible in people’s activities
  All laws must rest on the will of the majority an dmust be designed for no other than the good of the people
  Gov. is obligated to rule by natural and moral law

Question 6

Who was Thomas Hobbs?

Answer 6

• Published “Leviathan”
• View of Human Nature:
  Believed that humans are naturally selfish and will only to things that benefit themselves
  To cure human nature, a society must have a stable gov.
  This gov. Must be backed by forced (most likely violent, to play on peoples fear. They govern by fear so people do what the gov wants)
• Hobbs was a conservative this made him different in the time of the Enlightenment
  He gave his support to the feudal institutions of the monarchy in the time of liberal change
• View of Government:
  People need strong rule by a monarch to maintain order (absolute monarchy)
  Freedom is only possible if people surrender their liberty to an all-powerful gov.
  Society is established out of fear and maintain fear
  If the monarch fails to live up to the obligation to protect citizens, the citizens have the right to overthrow the gov.
  If an absolute leader is disposed of, another must replace them