ipl-logo

Enlightenment Philosopher Hobbes Research Paper

410 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Contribution Of Adam Smith To Economic Thought

Stella Gurin
Andre
AP European History
20 November 2017
The List: "Most influential Enlightenment Philosophe."
1. Adam Smith – He had two major works within his life he is best known for and they are The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. His laissez-faire philosophies inspired the market economy. This meant little government involvement in business. Sprouting from Laissez-faire, capitalism goes hand-in-hand with a market, or Laissez-faire, economy. I believe that this philosopher is most influential because many governments followed his ideals and are currently used today by countries including the United States. This government and economic setting elaborate upon the basic rights of the people.
2. Thomas Hobbes – In Hobbes’ Leviathan, he expresses how people should do things to others how they want others to do to them. In the Social Contract, Hobbes establishes the right of the individual without leadership overpowering them. Hobbes’ approach is based on the individual and his/her rights. Hobbes only believed in an absolute monarchy where people had their personal rights intact. I think that he was among the most influential because …show more content…

Jean Jacques Rousseau - In the "Social Contract", he detailed how the government should be run. He believed in a democratic government. He elaborates upon how people should tie as a whole to run and protect the nation, however be individually do things for the greater good, all the while remaining free. The Social Contract discusses how people are entitled to rights and shouldn’t be only submissive to the monarchs. Rousseau’s philosophy is based on a body of people with individual thought involved to overcome obstacles in nature and run the country properly. He should be included in this list of most influential philosophers because he incorporated the rights of the people with the government to make an effective system with almost to no oppression from the upper

Show More
Related
808 Words | 4 Pages

His ideas were dominant over other philosophers' about how a government should be run during the beginning of the French Revolution. “Democratic and Aristocratic states are not in their own nature free. Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments; and even in these it is not always found. It is there only when there is no abuse of power. But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to use it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.”

Read More
292 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Paine Since I was born in Great Britain and when I was young I lived under a monarchy and every since I wanted to make a different kind of government that separates the powers and makes everyone equal. I was approached by Benjamin Franklin and he asked me to come with him to America to help create the new government, I agreed. When I got to America I settled in Philadelphia I became a journalist that disgraced the monarchical government and wrote “Common Sense” which was a short pamphlet that told how the British government was wrong and an outline of a better government. In the outline of the new government you are free and in the British government you are not free and basically owned by the king.

Read More
630 Words | 3 Pages

Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin were two individuals who shaped a new and modern way of life for the common people during the 17th century Enlightenment movement due to the numerous essays, and theories that were put forth by the two. The enlightenment movement happened during the 17th and throughout the 18th century in what is now Europe. It mostly questioned the views and ideas concerning, reason, humanity, and the most coveted topic God. The doubts of the philosophers led to changes. Tremendous improvements and changes were made in the domains of philosophy (how one sees the world), art, and most importantly politics.

Read More
672 Words | 3 Pages

John Locke an English writer states that “ As guards and fences to the properties of all the members of the society, to limit the power and moderate the domination, of every part and member of the society.” (Doc.5) ‘Society’- The general public must endeavor to fight for a say in court for the laws that are being created and used against for them. Through people like Locke, it created an equality in the government, which now involved the voices of the lower class(Mkay). Voltaire, French writer and most famously known for “ I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” , (Doc 6.)Writes the letters on the English, which highlight the importance of a well-governed government, one of which involves the help of all, not just nobles.

Read More
762 Words | 4 Pages

Two particular enlightenment thinkers were Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Paine’s main focus in his works was that self-government is possible. He really spoke to the colonists in a way they could understand because he was just like them, meaning he was not well-educated but was able to express his thoughts in a persuasive way that impacted the colonists daily lives. The most important pamphlet he ever wrote was called Common Sense and was read by many people, and was even referenced at the Second Continental Congress. Thomas Jefferson was greatly influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment while he was writing the Declaration of Independence, along with many other of the Founding Fathers as well.

Read More
483 Words | 2 Pages

Our society would not be what it is today if it wasn't for the three French philosophers for the individual freedom, freedom in government, religion, economy, and gender equality. John Locke, Voltaire, and Adam Smith were four of the many great philosophers, who changed our society and the shaped the capitalistic democratic world that we live in today. These philosophers lived in a time of bright and amazing new ideas, known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Here are the main ideas of Enlightenment. John Locke (1632-1704) was one of the three main French philosophers.

Read More
467 Words | 2 Pages

Also, Montesquieu supported separation of power and a system of of checks and balances. Another was Adam Smith believed government should not interfere with free market economy. As well there was Voltaire, who believed in freedom of speech, John Locke said that people could revolt when their government wasn’t protecting the natural rights. Lastly, Rousseau wrote the social contract. They were important because they bought new ideas.

Read More
599 Words | 3 Pages

John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft all said that society can be made better by giving the people free will. John Locke was a great example of the philosophers who wanted the people to have freedoms. Locke thought that the government should be people focused and that the people need to have a say. Locke recommended a legislative and executive branch of the government. (Doc A) Locke believed that the king should have very limited power, giving Parliament more.

Read More
532 Words | 3 Pages

Those who were considered as general leaders of the Enlightenment years were thought to be very intellectual and were held by most people in the highest regard throughout the colonial society. Some of the more common names spoken back then were of men such as “John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison” (Sage, 2013, para. 3). Jean-Jacques Rousseau was another prominent thinker as well. He believed that all “individuals had natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which even a king or pope could not deny” (Schultz, 2010, p. 69). Rousseau, along with countless others fought for the rights of the people while insisting that each person is afforded the lawful right to live their own life and to cast aside the authoritativeness of others if they saw fit in doing

Read More
863 Words | 4 Pages

This would allow freedom of religion (Enlightenment, Pearson). Rousseau was Swiss born, but lived in France. He was in favor of a direct democracy; this led to the idea that the people should vote on their congressmen and president (Enlightenment). Cesare Beccaria was an Italian who was influenced by the works of the Frenchman Montesquieu. From his writings

Read More
463 Words | 2 Pages

Voltaire was another great philosopher he gave us freedom of speech and also advocated religious tolerance. Another great philosopher was Rousseau he created the social contract and believed that people were corrupted by society. They were all important because all of their ideas contributed to the American Revolution and the American Government.

Read More
628 Words | 3 Pages

Which brings me to the next Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Voltaire had a very big impact on society as he encouraged people to start having their own ideas. In Voltaire 's time period people were constantly punished for not agreeing with the church or the government. Voltaire believed that society would be much better off if there was freedom to have your own ideas. Voltaire believed that diversity was the key to success for society as he stated in The Philosophical Dictionary, "To be a good patriot is to wish that one 's city may be enriched by trade, and be powerful by arms"(Voltaire).

Read More
989 Words | 4 Pages

Jean-Jacque Rousseau - Comparisons with the above two philosophers and opinions on the State and Law. Jean Jacques Rousseau is the third philosopher I wish to discuss. He was a French-Geneva philosopher who is widely believed to have influenced the enlightenment in France and Europe. During the French revolution Rousseau was one of the most respected and popular political theorists. Rousseau believed that men in the state of nature were the most natural and free they could be before they were corrupted by the unnatural grips of civilization.

Read More
1227 Words | 5 Pages

John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu were political philosophers that debated the question of who was best fit to control the government. Locke and Montesquieu shared similar political beliefs such as natural rights and the separation of government powers. However, both philosophers did, in fact, have their personal views that helped them accomplish important achievements. John Locke published “Two Treatises of Government” and “ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” which present a detail philosophy of the mind and thought. Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” lays out his philosophical project.

Read More
810 Words | 4 Pages

The French Revolution was undoubtedly influenced by the political theorists of the Enlightenment. The ideas of two French political theorists in particular are easily seen throughout the French Revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Baron Montesquieu. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s thoughts and texts, such as the Social Contract, instilled the entitlement of basic human rights to all men. Rousseau’s concepts on rights combined with Baron Montesquieu’s ideas on government provided the backbone of a radical movement in the French Revolution known as the Terror. When one delves into the beginnings of the French Revolution, the motives and actions of the National Assembly, and the Terror of the French Revolution, one can obviously see the influence of two Enlightenment political theorists, Rousseau and Montesquieu.

Read More

More about Enlightenment Philosopher Hobbes Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document