Who were the Enlightenment thinkers?

Enlightenment thinkers were primarily philosophers and theorists who played a crucial role in shaping modern ideas about governance, individual rights, reason, and human understanding during the 17th and 18th centuries. This intellectual movement emerged in Europe and emphasized the use of reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored concepts such as social contracts, natural rights, and the separation of powers, which greatly influenced democratic thought and political systems that prioritize individual freedoms and equality before the law.

Their ideas laid the foundation for revolutionary movements, including the American and French Revolutions, by challenging traditional structures of power and advocating for the rights of individuals. The emphasis on reason and empirical evidence in understanding the world marked a significant shift from prior reliance on religious dogma and superstitions, making the contributions of Enlightenment thinkers pivotal in the advancement of modern society.