Enlightenment Thinkers

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Meet the philosophers who shaped the Age of Reason and modern democracy

1.
Which English philosopher is known as the 'Father of Liberalism' and wrote 'Two Treatises of Government'?
A
Thomas Hobbes
B
Francis Bacon
C
John Locke
D
David Hume
2.
Voltaire was a leading Enlightenment figure from which country?
A
Italy
B
Germany
C
France
D
England
3.
Thomas Hobbes described life in the 'state of nature' as 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and' what?
A
Long
B
Short
C
Boring
D
Dangerous
4.
Which Enlightenment thinker advocated for the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches?
A
Voltaire
B
Rousseau
C
Diderot
D
Montesquieu
5.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' begins with which famous line?
A
Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains
B
I think, therefore I am
C
The unexamined life is not worth living
D
Knowledge is power
6.
Immanuel Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason' addressed what fundamental question?
A
How to achieve happiness
B
The existence of God
C
What can we know and how do we know it
D
How to govern a nation
7.
Denis Diderot is best known for editing which major Enlightenment work?
A
The Dictionary
B
The Encyclopedie
C
The Constitution
D
The Bible
8.
Which Enlightenment thinker's ideas about natural rights directly influenced the American Declaration of Independence?
A
John Locke
B
Hegel
C
Voltaire
D
Hobbes
9.
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher known for his contributions to which area?
A
Empiricism and skepticism
B
Military strategy
C
Mathematics
D
Architecture
10.
Adam Smith, an Enlightenment thinker, is considered the father of what field?
A
Physics
B
Modern economics
C
Psychology
D
Sociology
11.
Voltaire was a strong advocate for which principle?
A
Feudalism
B
Military expansion
C
Monarchy
D
Religious tolerance and free speech
12.
What did Kant mean by 'Sapere aude' (Dare to know)?
A
Obey your rulers
B
Study science only
C
Have the courage to use your own reason
D
Travel the world
13.
Mary Wollstonecraft, an Enlightenment thinker, is best known for advocating what?
A
Women's rights and education
B
Colonial expansion
C
Religious orthodoxy
D
Absolute monarchy
14.
Benjamin Franklin, an American Enlightenment figure, was known for experiments in what field?
A
Chemistry
B
Electricity
C
Astronomy
D
Medicine
15.
The Enlightenment is often associated with which century?
A
18th century
B
15th century
C
17th century
D
16th century

Answer Key

Question 1

C. John Locke

Question 2

C. France

Question 3

B. Short

Question 4

D. Montesquieu

Question 5

A. Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains

Question 6

C. What can we know and how do we know it

Question 7

B. The Encyclopedie

Question 8

A. John Locke

Question 9

A. Empiricism and skepticism

Question 10

B. Modern economics

Question 11

D. Religious tolerance and free speech

Question 12

C. Have the courage to use your own reason

Question 13

A. Women's rights and education

Question 14

B. Electricity

Question 15

A. 18th century

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