Enlightened Philosophers Essay

John hushe, Baron de Montesquieu, Voltaire, and denim Jacques Rousseau were in all enlightenment philosophers. Each of these men had a particular keep an eye on of judicature, society, and its citizens and they were all passionate more or less their works. Locke (1632- 1704) was an face philosopher, his ideas had a great impact on the development of political philosophy and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential enlightenment thinkers. Montesquieu (1689- 1755) believed that all things were made up of laws that never changed. His most famed work, The Spirit of Laws, outlined his ideas on how authorities would work best.Voltaire (1694- 1778) was a poet, an essayist, playwright, historian, and above all, a critic of society. He was a great crusader for liberty and was twice imprisoned for his writings. Rousseau (1712-1778) generally recycled older enlightenment ideas scarcely is well known for his passionate rhetoric, which enflamed a generation and beyond. John L ockes view of government was that it was better to cook one. The mint may install their trust in the government so that in turn, the government may trust the mickle and protect their rights.The reason why men choose and give force play to lawmakers is that in that respect may be made, and rules set, as guards and fences The masses are right in try oning to put the laws in the hands of the government which forget protect their rights. (Excerpt from Lockes Two Treatises with Government) . Within the government, there were societies. Lock felt that the people needed/ wanted a government to protect their rights. They dont, however, want to be victims of power smear by the government. The reason why men enter into society is to preserve their property.(Two Treatises with Government) . e rattling society is made up of citizens he believed that People (lawmakers) will inevitably abuse their power at any(prenominal) point. When this happens, people should harbour the right to break free from the government. When lawmakers abuse absolute power and try to take a path and destroy the property of the people The people are then freed from any advance obedience to lawmakers (Two Treatises with Government) . If Locke were alive during the Renaissance period, his views may have shifted.Lock may have been less forward close his reasons why men enter into a society. The renaissance was a time of relaxation and prosperity. Humanism, self awareness, art, and science were a big deal and his view of people and their state in temper may have changed because people were thin fairy differently during those times. During the Protestant Reformation, times were also different and his feeling may have altered again. Locke may have not cared about the people as often because he was too busy criticizing the government/ churches.The Protestant Reformation was a time where people were very critical of the churches because they abused their power which is one of Lockes ph ilosophies people want to be protected by the government, not abused. During the Scientific Revolution, however, people were big on science and the people not so some(prenominal) the churches/ government so Lockes view may have changed again. He likely would feel the kindred way about the government but less harsh about the people. As times change, so do peoples opinions. Baron de Montesquieu believed in a government slightly different than Lockes.Montesquieu still believed in a central government but he thought that laws should be specific to different parts of the universe where as different law may have to be enforced in different places. In his most famous work, The Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu says Lawsshould be adapted for the people for whom they are framedthey should be carnal knowledge to the climate of from each one country, to the quality of its soil Montesquieus view of society, however, differed very much from Lockes. Montesquieu felt that people become intoxicate d on power when they have enough of it and they couldnt handle having more than the person next to them.Political liberty can only be found in moderate governments when there is no abuse of power. (The Spirit of Laws) Montesquieu feels the same way about individual citizens as he does about the general society. People al slipway abuse their powers. No matter how small the amount they have, they will charge their credibility to the edge. Constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it and ask it as far as it will go. (The Spirit of Laws) . As the renaissance came around, Montesquieu would definitely not have had such a bad opinion of man.As previously mentioned, the renaissance was a time for prosperity and there was a focus on humanism. Montesquieu believed that men will abuse any power that they are given but during the renaissance, people were much different. As for the Protestant Reformation, Montesquieu would probably feel the same way as his original philosophy. Nobody care each other during the Protestant Reformation but the liked the government/ churches even out less. Theres no doubt that people would abuse their power and the government should be split in 3 sections.However, during the Scientific Revolution, Montesquieu would feel the same about the people and probably would view the government the same way. During the Scientific Revolution, people were recovering from the Protestant Reformation but it was the abuse of power that put them there in the first place and they needed a stable government. Jean Jacques Rousseau was similar to Locke in his belief of a government. Rousseau believes that government is necessary for stability but only to an extent. If the king/ government should go against the people, they have a right to demand their granting immunity.No one not even a king has the right to go against the community as a whole. If a ruler was unequivocal and went against the will of the people the so cial contract is broken and the people had a right to demand their freedom (The Social Contract). Rousseaus view of society was also good in that he did not knock anything he merely made the observation that in a society, people all have to stop by all the same rules because this keeps them at bay. The essence of the social contract can be state simply each individual surrenders all his rights to the community (The Social Contract). Rousseaus view of citizens basically adds onto his view of how they react in society. He believes that people want to live amongst each other in counterinsurgency they want to be protected and live by certain guidelines to ensure prosperity. During the Protestant Reformation, Rousseaus ideas would have changed drastically. People were definitely not upkeep in peace and the government/churches were what got them into a mess in the first place. During the Protestant Reformation people were basically at war with the church and anyone who disagreed with their opinion.During the Scientific Revolution, people need a stable government because of what happened during the Protestant Reformation. However, people also wanted to live in peace with the government and their neighbors and whoever else. Rousseau would have felt the same about the government and about how people were living their lives during the Scientific Revolution as he would have from his original philosophy. Voltaire does not seem to care much for the government, He was a great crusader for liberty and was twice imprisoned for his writings. His view of society was that people should be accepting and understanding of each other when people do not accept each other and their ways of thinking, nothing good will come of it. Tolerance has never brought about elegant war. Intolerance has covered the earth with destruction (A Treatise on Toleration). When it comes to individuals, Voltaire is lighter with his words he doesnt penalize them for his distaste in the government. Vo ltaire believed that people should have certain unalienable rights that cannot be revoked unless they are causing some sort of a public disturbance.Each person must be permitted to believe and to think that which he rightly believes in. Each person should be able to speak freely as long as it does not disturb the public order. Each person must be able to freely work out any religion which he believes in (A Treatise on Toleration). Voltaire would have the same feelings about the government and about the people during the Protestant Reformation. It was a time when nobody liked the government/ churches and the people wanted their rights because they were losing doctrine in religion.During the Scientific Revolution people wanted their rights because they werent big on religion anymore, so, Voltaire probably would have felt the same way as his original writings. In conclusion, each philosopher had their own ideas and ways of thinking about the government, different societies, and its citizens. Each man may have also been influenced differently by the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, or the Scientific Revolution. These enlightenment philosophers have left their mark on history and will always be remembered as influential figures.