Glossary
Abolitionism
A social and political movement directly inspired by Enlightenment ideals of equality and natural rights, dedicated to ending slavery and extending rights to enslaved people.
Example:
Harriet Tubman's work on the Underground Railroad was a powerful act of abolitionism, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.
Adam Smith
Considered the father of capitalism and free markets, he believed that individual self-interest, guided by an 'invisible hand,' ultimately benefits society through economic growth.
Example:
A baker opening a new shop to earn a living, inadvertently providing jobs and fresh bread to the community, illustrates Adam Smith's concept of the 'invisible hand.'
Anti-Semitism
Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews, often manifesting as prejudice, hatred, or violence.
Example:
The Dreyfus Affair in France, where a Jewish army captain was falsely accused of treason, highlighted the pervasive anti-Semitism in European society.
Baron de Montesquieu
An Enlightenment thinker who advocated for the separation of powers within government into distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and a system of checks and balances to prevent tyranny.
Example:
The U.S. Constitution's design, with its distinct branches of government and their ability to limit each other's power, is a direct application of Baron de Montesquieu's ideas.
Classical Conservatism
A political ideology that emphasizes a natural social order, belief in traditional monarchies and nobility, and is often unapologetically elitist, pushing back against radical change.
Example:
A noble arguing that society functions best with a hereditary monarchy and established social classes, resisting calls for democratic reform, represents classical conservatism.
Classical Liberalism
A political ideology that emerged from Enlightenment ideas, advocating for individual liberties, limited government, free markets, and rights against traditional political, social, and economic structures.
Example:
A government that protects individual freedoms, promotes free trade, and limits its own intervention in the economy is adhering to principles of classical liberalism.
Deism
A religious philosophy embraced by many Enlightenment thinkers, positing belief in a creator who established natural laws but does not intervene in the daily workings of the universe.
Example:
A clockmaker who builds a perfect clock and then lets it run on its own, without further interference, is a common analogy for the Deism view of God.
Empiricism
An Enlightenment-era philosophical approach that asserts knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience, observation, and experimentation, rather than innate ideas or religious doctrine.
Example:
A scientist conducting repeated experiments and collecting data to prove a hypothesis is practicing empiricism.
Enlightenment
An 18th-century intellectual movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism over tradition and religion, laying the groundwork for modern democracy and human rights.
Example:
The American Revolution's call for self-governance and individual liberties was deeply rooted in Enlightenment ideals.
Feminism
The belief that women's rights are human rights, advocating for social, political, and economic equality between the sexes.
Example:
Mary Wollstonecraft's arguments for women's education and rational thought were early expressions of feminism.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
An Enlightenment philosopher who expanded on the social contract theory, emphasizing the importance of the common good and the general will of the people as the basis for legitimate government.
Example:
When a community votes on a new public park, prioritizing the collective benefit over individual preferences, they are acting in line with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the general will.
John Locke
A highly influential Enlightenment philosopher known for his theories on natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract, advocating for government by consent of the governed.
Example:
The American colonists' justification for revolution, based on the idea that the British government failed to protect their inherent rights, directly echoed the philosophy of John Locke.
Nationalism
A strong sense of loyalty and devotion to one's nation, characterized by a shared identity, culture, and pride, which can unify or divide populations.
Example:
The unification of Germany in the 19th century was largely driven by a powerful sense of shared language and culture, embodying nationalism.
Natural Rights
Inalienable rights—life, liberty, and property—that John Locke argued are inherent to all humans and not granted by governments, which have a duty to protect them.
Example:
The Declaration of Independence asserts that all people are endowed with certain unalienable natural rights, including the pursuit of happiness.
Reason over Revelation
A central Enlightenment idea promoting the use of logic and observation to solve problems and understand the world, rather than relying on religious dogma or divine inspiration.
Example:
Instead of accepting a king's rule as divinely ordained, Enlightenment thinkers applied reason over revelation to argue for government by consent.
Social Contract
An agreement where people give up some individual freedoms to live in a society under a shared authority or government, which exists to serve the people and protect their natural rights.
Example:
Citizens agreeing to obey laws in exchange for protection and public services are participating in a social contract with their government.
Socialism
A political and economic theory advocating that the community or the workers should collectively own and control the means of production, rather than private individuals.
Example:
A factory where the workers collectively own the machinery and share the profits, rather than a single owner, operates on principles of socialism.
Tabula Rasa
The concept, proposed by Locke, that individuals are born as a 'blank slate,' meaning their experiences and environment, rather than pre-determined destiny, shape their character and knowledge.
Example:
A child growing up in a diverse, stimulating environment is seen as developing a rich personality because their tabula rasa is filled with varied experiences.
Thomas Hobbes
An Enlightenment philosopher who believed that humanity's natural state was chaotic and thus required a strong, absolute government to maintain order and prevent societal collapse.
Example:
In a world without rules, Thomas Hobbes would argue that life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,' necessitating a powerful ruler.
Thomas Paine
A key figure in the American Revolution whose influential pamphlet 'Common Sense' powerfully argued for American independence from British rule.
Example:
Reading Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' galvanized many American colonists to support the revolutionary cause against Great Britain.
Utopian Socialism
A form of socialism focused on creating ideal societies designed to maximize harmony, often featuring shared ownership, positive workplaces, and equal rights.
Example:
Robert Owen's New Lanark, a community with improved working conditions, education, and housing for factory workers, was an attempt at utopian socialism.
Voltaire
A prominent Enlightenment philosopher who championed freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the separation of church and state, often using satire to criticize abuses of power.
Example:
A modern activist fighting for the right to express unpopular opinions without fear of censorship is embodying the principles championed by Voltaire.
Women's Rights
A reform movement inspired by Enlightenment ideas, where women began to demand greater equality and challenge traditional gender roles, advocating for their rights as human rights.
Example:
The Seneca Falls Convention, where women drafted a Declaration of Sentiments demanding suffrage and other equalities, was a pivotal moment in the women's rights movement.
Zionism
A political movement advocating for the establishment and development of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East.
Example:
Theodor Herzl's efforts to organize international support for a Jewish state were central to the rise of Zionism.