People & Terms
The famous quote Descartes said to prove his own existence
"I think, therefore I am"
A period in history in which there was no morality or justice, only constant war... at least according to author of the Leviathan
State of Nature
This thinker proposed that humans used to live in a state of nature in which there was disorder and immorality
Thomas Hobbes
This group of thinkers doubt everything and state that nothing can be known for certain
Skeptics
This skeptic and rationalist influenced a great number of thinkers in Europe. He was a lover of mathematics
Rene Descartes
This book, written by Thomas Hobbes, compared the sovereign ruler, or government, to a biblical sea creature
The Leviathan
This thinker proposed humans used to live in a state of nature. Unlike other thinkers, this thinker believed that in this state of nature was a "natural law" that humans followed.
John Locke
This was the title of Descartes famous work in which he sought to prove the existence of God using deductive reasoning
Discourse on Methods and On First Philosophy
The idea that humans give up some or all of their rights to a sovereign ruler in exchange for peace, order, and security.
Social Contract
This school of thought taught that all truth, both religious and scientific, was only attained through reason alone.
Rationalism
This Dutch philosopher abandoned his Jewish faith and in its place held to scientific philosophy. He said the universe IS God.
The doctrine held by some Christians that God places king on their thrones and gives them absolute power in their kingdoms
Divine Right of Kings
Locke wrote this work, his most famous one, in which he describes his own view of the social contract.
Two Treatises
This "new religion" said that God was like a watchmaker. It found the morality of religion good, but its rationalistic foundation made no room for Divine Providence
Deism
Wrote the Historical and Critical Dictionary
Pierre Bayle
Life, Liberty, and Property
He was remembered as the "Father of the Enlightenment"
Pierre Bayle
This work gave arguments that moved readers to doubt the truth of Scripture or question religious authorities
The Historical and Critical Dictionary
This philosophy founded upon the idea that humans beings are by nature unconnected and have no obligation to obey any person or body of persons. Government is formed by the social contract.
Liberalism
Like Descartes, he stated the world is mechanistic. Unlike Descartes, this thinker proposed that the human mind is material and, therefore, not free
Benedict Spinoza
A French Protestant who accepted Calvinist beliefs
Huguenot
Besides philosophy, Benedict Spinoza was able to support himself by this profession
Grinding and polishing lenses
According to this philosopher, the best form of government is one controlled by the majority of the citizens who rule through a representative form of government.
John Locke
The philosophy arising from skepticism. It promoted a freedom of thought, unrestricted by Church or State
Libertinism
The list in which Descartes famous work was placed by the Church following its publication
Index of Forbidden Books