Notes on the Enlightenment thinkers (Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, & the Philosophes)

1. Enlightenment
Thinkers
I can list and describe the political
theories of Hobbes, Locke, &
Montesquieu

2. ISN pg. 39
Thinker Idea

3. Thomas Hobbes
O People are greedy and
selfish by nature.
O Believed that the best
government has
complete control.
O Governments exist to
prevent people from
doing bad things.

4. Thomas Hobbes
O Government should
be as powerful as a
Leviathan.

5. John Locke
OBelieved that the best
government is one run by
the people.
OPeople were born with a
blank slate, experience
makes you who you are.
OGovernments exist
because people allow
them to.

6. John Locke
OEveryone has natural
rights:
O Life, liberty, and the
pursuit…
OYou have the “right” to
rebel…
OInfluenced the
Declaration of
Independence

7. John Locke “Two Treatises on
Civil Government”
“The reason men enter into society is to protect their
property. And the reason they choose a government is to
make laws to guard that property…..Certainly society
does not want to give the government the power to
destroy the very property which it was chosen to protect.
Therefore, whenever government tries to take away and
destroy the property of the people, or reduce the people
to slavery, it puts itself in a state of war with the people.
The people are freed from any further obedience to that
government…and have the right to establish a new
government.”

8. Montesquieu
O Best governments separate
their powers.
O Executive
O Legislative
O Judicial
O No one person should have
complete control.

9. The Philosophes
O French Philosophers
O Writers
O Teachers
O Journalist
O Discussed & debated new
ideas
O Freedom of Speech
O Ideas spread across
Europe

10. Scenario
Imagine that you are shipwrecked in a foreign
land with 100 other people. They could be
strangers or people you know, but you all have
one problem in common: there is no way to leave
this foreign land. Therefore, you must decide
upon a constitution that will protect the rights and
freedoms of all 100 people. All 100 must agree to
this constitution!

11. In group…
Step 1: Discuss what might happen if all
100 people live together with no rules and
laws. Record your responses as you
consider:
a) What might the stronger, more dominant
people do?
b) What might the weaker people do?
c) Would there be criminals?
d) Whom or what would protect people?

12. Step 2 On a sheet of paper, your
group will record a list of rights that
everyone in the new land should
have. Create a separate list of basic
rules (laws) that everyone must
follow.

13. Step 3 How should the
group of people decide on
the laws and rules?
Record your ideas!

14. Summary
Thinkers during the Enlightenment brought many
political changes. They started to think that
individuals/citizens have rights and that it was the
government’s job to protect them. This set up a
launching pad for America’s “radical” form of
government.

15. Exit Ticket
O Which philosopher describes you more: Hobbes
or Locke?
O Explain in at least 2 sentences.