Enlightenment Thinkers

Name _____________________________ Class________________________ Date_____________
Enlightenment and Revolution

Lesson 2
Enlightenment Thinkers
Key Terms and People
Enlightenment 18th-century European movement in which thinkers attempted to
apply the principles of reason and the scientific method to all aspects of society
social contract agreement by which people define and limit their individual rights,
thus creating an organized society or government
John Locke English philosopher and founder of British empiricism; he developed
political and economic theories during the Enlightenment. He declared that
people have a right to rebel against governments that do not protect their rights.
philosophe one of a group of social thinkers in France during the Enlightenment
rationalism belief that truth could be found through reason or logical thinking
Voltaire French philosopher and author who believed in tolerance, reason,
freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech
Montesquieu French political philosopher who explored democratic theories of
government; he proposed a government divided into three branches and greatly
influenced the United States Constitution.
Rousseau Swiss-French political philosopher; he championed the freedom of the
individual and the notion that all people were equal.
Before You Read

In the last lesson, you read about how the Scientific Revolution
began in Europe.
In this lesson, you will read about how the Enlightenment began in
Europe.
As You Read
Use a web diagram to summarize the ideas of different
Enlightenment thinkers.
TWO VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT founded on ideas of the Scientific

What were the views of Hobbes and Revolution. Two English writers—
Locke? Thomas Hobbes and John Locke—were
The Enlightenment was an intellectual important to this movement. They came
movement. Enlightenment thinkers tried to very different conclusions about
to apply reason and the scientific government and human nature.
method to laws that shaped human Hobbes wrote that there would be a
actions. They hoped to build a society war of “every man against every man” if
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
259 Guided Reading Workbook

Name _____________________________ Class________________________ Date_____________
Lesson 2, continued
there were no government. To avoid this The most brilliant of the philosophes
war, Hobbes said, people formed a social was the writer Voltaire. He fought for
contract. It was an agreement between tolerance, reason, freedom of religious
people and their government. People belief, and freedom of speech. Baron de
gave up their rights to the government Montesquieu wrote about political
so they could live in a safe and orderly freedom and separation of powers—
way. The best government, he said, is dividing power among the separate
that of a strong king who can force all branches of government. The third great
people to obey. philosophe was Jean Jacques Rousseau.
John Locke believed that people have He wrote in favor of human freedom.
three natural rights. They are life, Rousseau believed that all people were
liberty, and property. The purpose of naturally free and good but that
government is to protect these rights. civilization chained them. He wanted a
When it fails to do so, he said, people true democracy in which all people were
have a right to overthrow equal, and government was guided by
the government. the “general will” of the people. Cesare
1. How were Hobbes’s and Locke’s Beccaria was an Italian philosophe. He
views different? spoke out against abuses of justice and
in favor of all people’s rights. He
believed that laws should be based on
fairness and reason.
2. Name the types of freedoms that
Enlightenment thinkers
THE PHILOSOPHES ADVOCATE championed.
REASON
Who were the philosophes?
French thinkers, called philosophes,
had five main beliefs: (1) thinkers can
find the truth by using reason—this is
known as rationalism; (2) what is natural
is good and reasonable, and human
actions are shaped by natural laws; (3)
acting according to nature can bring
happiness; (4) by taking a scientific view,
people and society can make progress
and advance to a better life; and (5) by
using reason, people can gain freedom.

Name _____________________________ Class________________________ Date_____________
Lesson 2, continued
As you read, fill in the diagram by describing the beliefs of

Enlightenment thinkers and writers.
1. Voltaire 2. Montesquieu
Enlightenment Philosophers and Writers
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau 4. Cesare Bonesana Beccari

Enlightenment Thinkers

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Enlightenment Thinkers

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Enlightenment Thinkers

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Name _________________ Class Date_

Enlightenment and Revolution

Before You Read

TWO VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT founded on ideas of the Scientific

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

259 Guided Reading Workbook

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

260 Guided Reading Workbook

As you read, fill in the diagram by describing the beliefs of

Enlightenment Philosophers and Writers

3. Jean Jacques Rousseau 4. Cesare Bonesana Beccari

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

261 Guided Reading Workbook

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.