File:Philosophes Essay 3.doc

Western Civ Philosophes Project - Essay #3

How did early experiences shape the Philosophes life?

The Philosophes early experiences in life helped shape their later beliefs and ideas.

John Locke met a man named John Owen in college. He introduced Locke to the idea of religious freedom. Locke did not catch onto this idea, though and remained tolerant only of other Protestants. Locke also read the works of René Descartes when he was young. This experience led him to say that all humans have three natural rights; the rights to life, liberty, and property. He also experienced the glorious revolution in England, which helped shape his later beliefs about change in governments.

Thomas Hobbes witnessed a bloody battle which led him to the conclusion that all people are evil and need a strong government to keep the peace and control them. This led him to believe that an absolute monarchy was the best form of government.

Jean Jacques Rousseau was abandoned during his teen years. He spent years forced into servitude as an apprentice. Later, wealthy people were good to him and took care of him. These experiences led him to believe that people are born good, but society’s intuitions turns them bad in their quest for power or wealth. Also he was influenced by the peace and stability he saw in traditional Swiss villages where he grew up near.

Baron de Montesquieu was born to a wealthy family, yet raised in a poorer family. In this other family, he observed people fighting for their religion and prosecuting non-believers. This led him to his belief of tolerance for all religions.

Mary Wollstonecraft grew up in a family were everything went to the oldest son, even though she was older then her oldest brother. This experience led her to fight for women’s equality and rights. She believed that women and men should be equal.

Voltaire’s education at a Jesuit school thought him, in his opinion, not much except “Latin and the Stupidities.” This type of education led him to want to change the Church’s control over education and all other matters including tolerance and equality for all people, regardless of race or religion.