Enlightenment Thinkers
Thinker & Literature
Jean Jacques ROUSSEAU
The Social Contract
John LOCKE
Major Ideas
Connections to Today
People are basically good, but
become corrupted by society. The
strong normally oppress the weak
& impose unfair & unjust laws.
“Man is born free and everywhere
he is in chains. Legitimate
government comes only from the
consent of the people”
Idea that political authority lies
with the people, and the gov.
should protect the common good
People have a natural right to life,
liberty & property. Rulers have a
responsibility to protect people
“Men being…by nature all free,
equal and independent, no one can
be put out of this estate &
subjected to the political power of
another without his own consent”
Influenced authors of US
Declaration of Independence,
guaranteeing freedom and liberty
to all people and ensuring that if
people were unhappy with the
government, they could change it
Freedom, tolerance and a
government to protect those rights
“I disapprove of what you say, but
I will defend to the death your
right to say it”
Freedom of speech & expression
First Amendment of the
Constitution
Powers of government should be
controlled through separations.
“In order to have…liberty, it is
necessary that government be set
up so that one man need not be
afraid of another…power should
be a check to power”
Separation of pwer among
branches of government to prevent
one branch from having too much
power (Executive, Legislative &
Judicial)
People are driven by selfishness
and greed – they give up their
freedom to government to ensure
order.
“The condition of many in the
state of nature…is a condition of
war of everyone against
everyone…therefore, government
is necessary to keep order”
Justification for absolute power
because people are not able to
govern themselves well.
Two Treatises on Government
VOLTAIRE
“Quotation”
Candide
Baron de MONTESQUIEU
On the Spirit of Laws
Thomas HOBBES
Leviathan