Enlightenment Summative
human nature
The fundamental disposition of humans that determines their behavior
reason
a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
State of Nature
a condition in which no governments or laws existed at all
Jean-Jaques rousseau
believed people in their natural state were basically good but that they were corrupted by the evils of society, especially the uneven distribution of property
Thomas Hobbes
believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority
seperation of powers
dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Baron de Montesquieu
separation of powers
Divine Right of Kings Theory
the belief that God grants authority to a government
natural rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
secular
Non-religious
Voltaire
(1694-1778) French philosopher. He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.
John Locke
17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.
Popular Sovereignty
A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.
philosophes
A group of French "radicals" who focused on human reason and making critical changes in society
Enlightenment
A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.
philosophy
A system of beliefs and values
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
natural law
God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law