5 main THINKERS of Enlightenment

In this lesson from a TEACHER we explain who the main thinkers of Enlightenment, a cultural trend that was born in Europe at the end of the 17th century and that lasted until the middle of the 18th century, especially in France, the United Kingdom and Germany. The Age of Enlightenment, or Enlightenment supposes a break with all the previous tradition, superstition and deceit and a commitment to human reason and knowledge, on the darkness of ignorance.

The stamp of Goya, The dream of the reason produces monsters, perfectly sums up the ideal of Enlightenment, and is a critique of the society of the moment, still immersed in the obscurantism. If you want to know more about the Enlightenment and the main thinkers of this movement, keep reading this lesson from a TEACHER.

Index

1. John Locke (1632-1704), Enlightenment philosopher
2. Voltaire (1694-1778)
3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
4. Montesquieu (1713-1784)
5. David Hume (1711-1776)

We begin by meeting the main thinkers of the Enlightenment to talk about John Locke. Considered the father of economic liberalism makes a defense of the liberal state and the separation of powers. For this thinker, it would be the State that has to safeguard the three natural rights, namely, the right to life, liberty and private property. But in addition, he adds a fourth, the right to defend natural rights, as well as freedoms, which by consensus, the citizen cedes to the State.

The English philosopher affirms that the government must be formed by a king and a parliamentThe latter being an expression of popular sovereignty, and the laws that are created in it must be obeyed, both by the people and by the king. Before Montesquieu, LockeI would have defended the separation of powers, against the absolute power of the monarch.

It states that human beings live in the state of nature in a situation of peace and subjected to natural laws, such as the right to take justice into their own hands or the restriction of private property, through different means. This situation unfair ends with the creation of society, thanks to a social contract which is aimed at the defense of life and private property.

French writer and philosopher, who throughout his work makes a defense of thereason, knowledge and scientific developmentas well as tolerance. The phrase "I do not share what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it, condenses the moral of the thinker, although it seems that it was never expressed by him in this way.

From the ideas of John Locke, Voltaire affirms that the mission of the human being is to become the owner of his own destiny and rise through science, culture and society. Justice, It is due to the consensus among citizens, although in each country it is different and It's universal, since all individuals can get to know this idea through reason. Everyone recognizes the usefulness and morality has an obligation to teach to respect the laws.

We continue with the main thinkers of the Enlightenment to talk about this writer, philosopher and thinker Swiss, who had a decisive influence on all Western thought, being a fundamental figure on the French Revolution And in the American Revolutions of Independence.

On ANDl social contract: or the principles of political law, Rousseau develops his ideas about the freedom and equality of individuals, through the formation of the Condition, through the social contract. The human being, in state of nature, the philosopher would affirm, he lives in peace, society being responsible for his corruption. His conception of the will generatesHe lays the foundation for the principles of later political philosophy.

French writer and essayist, whose ideas lay the foundations for the construction of the Modern State. His main contribution to political philosophy was his theory of separation of powers, which has been adapted by numerous States, and has been decisive in the Constitution of the United States.

His philosophy, framed within the enlightenment it is characterized by a defense of religious tolerance, freedom and happiness within society.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Montesquieubet on him empiricism, against the deductive method prevailing at the time and has been of enormous influence on the development of political philosophy.

Scottish thinker and defender the andmpirism, who defended the idea that only through experience, knowledge is possible. He influenced utilitarianism, logical positivism, philosophy of science, analytical philosophy, cognitive science, theology, and philosophers such asImmanuelKant, who claimed that Hume woke him up from his "dogmatic sleep".

One of the most important works of him, Treatise on Human Nature, was fundamental for the father of Utilitarianism, Jeremy benthan, will develop his philosophy.

Immanuel kant he is considered the last enlightened philosopher and his philosophy decisively influenced some of the great thinkers such as Fichte, Schelling, Hegel or Arthur Schopenhauer.

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Antiseri, D. Reale, G. History of Philosophy Vol II. Ed. Herder. 2010