Philosopher/
Thinker / Picture / Beliefs/ Accomplishments / Real Quote/ “Bumper sticker” / What would he say today/ how would he say it today?
Isaac Newton
John
Locke
Thomas
Hobbes
Baron de
Montesquieu
Jean Jacque
Rousseau
Voltaire
(François-Marie Arouet)
Denis Diderot
Adam
Smith / Was a “physiocrat”

Major Ideas from the Enlightenment:

  Reason: Humans should rely on reason to improve society.

Example:

  Nature and Natural laws: Natural laws regulate both the universe and human society. Can be discovered by human reason.

Example:

  Progress: Believed in social progress. Discovery of laws of economics and government would improve society and make progress inevitable.

Example:

  Liberty: Wanted to remove limitations on human liberty. Inalienable / natural rights

Example:

  Toleration: Advocated full religious tolerance

Example:

  •Social Contract-An agreement among the members of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

Example:

  •Natural Rights-theory that individuals have basic rights given to them by nature or God that no individual or government can deny.

Example:

  •Consent of the governed-the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed by votes in elections.

Example:

  •Rule of Law-government by law : adherence to due process of law.

Example:

  •Limited Government-a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law.

Example:

  •Separation of Powers-allocation of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers among the three branches of government

Example:

  •Freedom of Religion-to practice one's religion or exercise one's beliefs without intervention by the government and to be free of the exercise of authority by a church through the government

Example:

  •Freedom of Speech-the right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content and subject only to reasonable limitations.

Example: