Started in England, The country which represented the role model of political system, we can say that the age of Enlightenment had a huge influence for modern political thinking. It was the beginning of liberalism and conservatism. Enlightenment Thinking is based on few characteristics. First of all it is universalism, which claims that human nature is always the same, despite of time, place and régime. The second one is the rationalism, which collocate with materialism, empiricism and sensualism. The rationalists reject the god and idea of salvation as human main destination in politics and claims that what is useful is good for society. They also deeply believe in power of human mind and admit that public education is very important. The Age of Enlightenment is also the age of two big revolutions. This occurrence causes slow collapse of class society and system of class privileges. However, a lot of sovereigns followed the ideas of enlightenment to justify their authority. French Philosophers in the age of Enlightenment frequently brought up political subjects. They came up with ideas of more or less perfect political systems. Some of them are foundations for modern governments. Below, I would like to describe four of them: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau.

Montesquieu, French social commentator, political thinker and lawyer certainly marked himself as creator of modern form of government. His works is admiration of freedom and criticism of absolutism. It is based on historicism and rationalism.

Montesquieu was aristocratic liberalism follower. Moreover, he created the main rules of it. He thought that honor of aristocracy guarantee freedom and can stop absolutism. Particularly it is based on cooperation between pro-feudalists (aristocracy) and pro-capitalists (bourgeoisie).

Conception of “The Spirit of The Law” by Montesquieu depends on relations which laws can have with many things like geographic position of the state, climate, living conditions, usage, economy and also religion and tradition. So that there is such a huge difference between the nation and it is impossible to establish just one model of the law. Moreover, the law will be closer to the conception if they will guarantee the widest freedom of individual.

M. also systematized forms of government. According to his words there are two things the nature of government (the essence of the state) and rule of government (the way that states works). He marked out three forms: republic, monarchy and despotic.

Last but not least Montesquieu is author of Separations of powers idea. He claims that in every state exist three fields of activity, each of them being connected with the proper power- legislative, executive and judicial. Those three authorities have to be separated to ensure the liberty. The legislative according to Montesquieu should be given to the parliament as the representative of society contain two chambers - lower, with representatives chosen by all people and higher being hereditary and representing the rich classes. The executive was thought to be put in the monarch's hands, who could perform the law with the help of ministers and the judicial composed of independent tribunals chosen for short terms in office.

The second thinker, Voltaire, remained on the strength of Montesquieu, that is why He so believed In the Power of intellect, rationalism and history. He proclaims that intellectual elites position should be strengthened. In his opinion the enlightened monarch, philosophy friendly should initiate liquidation of despotism through resignation of his own despotic power. V. was accepting M. conception of liberty and divide it to two categories: civil (which is ESSENTIAL) and political liberty. In his opinion liberty is not bounded with equality but with property. Moreover, V. postulated unification of law, condemned nobility and clergy classes wastefulness. However, He treated religion as an ensuring element for social order. He was also charmed by English form of government and John Locke's thought and he took the idea of utilitarian ethics.

Another Thinker is Denis Diderot. In spite of Voltaire he was against the conception of enlightened monarch who can lead to universal happiness and justice, he postulated supremacy of parliament over the executive power. Moreover, D. claimed that a man is by nature good and it is the current condition and a bad governing system demoralized him. As the follower of theory of revolution, he believed in `nation's rebirth from bloodbath' - insurrection was the most efficient way to initiate reforms. In economy he admits that enrichment of individuals leads to common welfare. He demanded free trade, respect for property rights, `cheap' state. Furthermore, he noticed negative effect of capitalistic exploitation.

Last famous thinker is J.J Rousseau. He invented the idea of primary savage who is not spoiled by civilization and only in this state, pre-society state, human beings were happy. Unfortunately, people started imposing their will of nature and conflicts were started (this caused divisions: economical between poor and rich and political between strong and weak). He blamed institution for people's bad habits (ex. Family for love and hatred). He maintained that the solution is the social contract.

Social contract according to R. is an act based on an agreement rule everyone with everyone. No one should aim for changing it, because it brings assumptions of peace and safety. Natural liberty transform into liberty guarded by law.

R. also tried to define `sovereignty of nation'. He distinguished three features of this sovereignty - indivisibility, untransferability and limitless. The whole concept is based on few assumption. Firstly, sovereignty it is common good, it enables whole society to live happier. However, it is only a tool to realize general will (which is always correct, only people can misunderstand it). Furthermore, sovereignty manifests itself not Only in law but also in government controlling.

Assuming, Political Thought of the Age of Enlightenment in France is quite modern. Thinkers wanted to fight with despotism and reconsidered idea of state and government systems. They were rather Liberalists. We can say that lot of ideas survive until today and have a huge influence for common regime.

John Locke was The precursor

Words of Montesquieu

Charles-Louis de Secondat at, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu(8 January 1689 - February 1755)

Author of `Lettres Persanes' and `De l'Esprit des Lois'

Montesquieu

François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 - 30 May 1778)-French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher

Voltaire

Montesquieu

Voltaire

Denis Diderot (October 5, 1713 - July 31, 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert.

Diderot

Diderot's quote

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (28 June 1712 - 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism of French expression. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.

Rousseau

Rousseau

Political Thought of the Age of Enlightenment in France, based on Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau and Montesquieu.

Daria Rosiecka

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