Absolutionism in the Age of Reason

Absolutionism in the Age of Reason

The Enlightenment was a period of intellectual, social, scientific, religious, and political change which took place in 17th and 18th century Europe.   The most significant change during this period was the development of democracy.   Many people influenced this such as, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu.   Many events were also influenced by these people, such as the American and French revolutions.  

Perhaps one of the most famous philosophers, John Locke was an English philosopher who proposed ideas such as the right to life, liberty, and property.   For having these ideas, he fell under suspicion of treason and was forced to flee England to the Netherlands.   During his life he wrote his book, Two Treatises on Government, about his revolutionary ideas.

Another English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, was influenced by the scientific revolution, and contributed to a diverse array of fields, including history, geometry, physics of gases, theology, ethics, general philosophy, and political science.   He proposed that people should submit to an authoritarian ruler, as a type of social contract, to prevent disorder.

François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name, Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer who proposed ideas such as tolerance, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech.   He was an outspoken supporter for social reform, writing more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets on his ideas.   He frequently criticized the Catholic Church and the French government of his time.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevois philosopher, wrote the book The Social Contract in 1762, about his ideas of a government to respond to the people’s will.

Montesquieu, another French philosopher, introduced the idea of separation of powers, by dividing the government into three separate branches.   This plan was first used by the United States, and many other democratic countries adopted it.

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