Topic 12 Vocab Enlightenment

Philosophes

Writers during the Enlightenment and who popularized the new ideas of the time.

Natural rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Representative

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

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.

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

Thomas Hobbes

English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings (1588-1679)

Mary Wollstonecraft

English writer and early feminist who denied male supremacy and advocated equal education for women