Enlightenment Philosopher Hobbes Research Paper

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

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