Philosophers during Enlightenment Period

Johann Sebastian Bach

1685–1750

Place of Birth: Germany

Biography:

An enormously influential German composer who rose to prominence in the early 1700s. Best known by his contemporaries as an organist, Bach also wrote an enormous body of both sacred and secular music that synthesized a variety of styles and in turn influenced countless later composers.

Legacy:

Lorenz Christoph Mizler published a detailed obituary for Bach in 1754, which serves to be the richest and most trustworthy document on Bach. His reputation declined after death, as the classical style became popular and his style was considered old-fashioned. But he was widely revered for his keyboard works and famous musicians like Mozart, Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Chopin and Felix Mendelssohn were his staunch admirers. Beethoven described Bach as “original father of harmony”. Johann Nikolaus Forkel wrote Bach’s biography in 1802 and this contributed to Bach’s reputation. Many streets in Germany were named after Bach and many statues of him were erected during the twentieth century.

Thomas Jefferson

1743–1826

Place of Birth: Shadwell, Virginia

Biography:

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Virginia. He was a draftsman of the U.S. Declaration of Independence; the nation's first secretary of state (1789-94); second vice president (1797-1801); and, as the third president (1801-09), the statesman responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson died in bed at Monticello (located near Charlottesville, Virginia) on July 4, 1826.

Legacy:

American thinker and politician who penned the Declaration of Independence (1776), which was inspired directly by Enlightenment thought.

John Locke

1632–1704

Place of Birth: Somerset, England

Biography:

John Locke, born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, England, went to Westminster school and then Christ Church, University of Oxford. At Oxford he studied medicine, which would play a central role in his life. He became a highly influential philosopher, writing about such topics as political philosophy, epistemology, and education. Locke's writings helped found modern Western philosophy.

Legacy:

 In his famous Two Treatises of Government (1690), he championed the idea of a representative government that would best serve all constituents.

Baron de Montesquieu

1689–1755

Place of birth: Aquitaine region of France

Biography:

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède and de Montesquieu, was born in the Aquitaine region of France on January 18, 1689, during the Age of Enlightenment. Through his education and travels he became a sharp social commentator and political thinker who gained the respect of his fellow philosophers with his masterwork The Spirit of Laws, which went on to have a major influence on English and American government.

Legacy:

The foremost French political thinker of the Enlightenment, whose most influential book, The Spirit of Laws, expanded John Locke’s political study and incorporated the ideas of a division of state and separation of powers. Montesquieu’s work also ventured into sociology: he spent a considerable amount of time researching various cultures and their climates, ultimately deducing that climate is a major factor in determining the type of government a given country should have.

Voltaire

1694-1778

Place of Birth: Paris, France

Biography:

The most celebrated of the philosophers was Francois- Marie Arouet, known to the world by his pen name Voltaire. He wrote poetry, plays, essays and books in an entertaining style and ooften satirical. His most celebrated satire was Candide.

In his youth Voltaire twice served time in the Bastille, the prison in Paris. His works that mocked the church and the  Royal Court of France placed him in prison. He was again put into prison when he was accused of insulting a nobleman. Voltaire was given a choice between further imprisonment and exile in France he chose the latter. When Voltaire moved to England, he felt free. His 3 years in England was spent writing books promoting Bacon’s philosophy and the scienceof newton.

Legacy:

He was credited with his most famous statement,”I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.”