The Enlightenment Philosophers:

What Was Their Main Idea?

John Locke

Adam Smith

All men are born

equal
Consent of the
governed
Government
needs to protect
natural rights

Reason to
analyze
economic
systems
Free market
enterprise
Laissez-faire; no
government
intervention

Voltaire

Individual Freedom

Wanted to fix
society
Injustice from
government,
church, and
nobility
Strived for
justice, tolerance,
and freedom

Mary
Wollstonecraft

Demanded equal
rights for women
Women should
be able to get an
education outside
of the household
Able to reason
like men