Philosophes

The Philosophes were the thinkers of the Enlightenment. They included English and French philosophers, writers, political scientists, economists and other intellectuals.

1. All Philosophes were not philosophers
2. Common theme: Belief in reason
3. When: 1700s
4. Outgrowth of the scientific discoveries of the 17th century
5. Introduced concept of natural rights into politics

The Philosophes were the backbone of the Enlightenment, emphasizing the use of human reason over organized religion. They were also critical of established political processes. Their works laid the foundation for both the French and American revolutions.

Most of the French Philosophes contributed to the Encyclopédie, which was edited by Denis Diderot and Jean d'Alembert. The Encyclopédie, which consisted of 71,818 articles in 35 volumes, dealt with all aspects of human knowledge. Diderot described the project by saying, "All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings."

"There are three principal means of acquiring knowledge... observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination."—Denis Diderot

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."—Voltaire

"To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties. For he who renounces everything no indemnity is possible. Such a renunciation is incompatible with man's nature; to remove all liberty from his will is to remove all morality from his acts."—Jean Jacques Rousseau

• ThinkQuest: The Enlightenment, A Summary of What Happened