SettingsEnlightenment philosophers
Adam Weishaupt
Johann Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher and founder of the Order of Illuminati, a secret society with origins in Bavaria.
Johann Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher and founder of the Order of Illuminati, a secret society with origins in Bavaria.
Adriaan Koerbagh
Adriaan Koerbagh (1632, Amsterdam - 1669, Amsterdam) was a Dutch scholar and writer best known as a critic of religion and conventional morality.
Adriaan Koerbagh (1632, Amsterdam - 1669, Amsterdam) was a Dutch scholar and writer best known as a critic of religion and conventional morality.
Alexander Gerard
Alexander Gerard (February 22, 1728 – February 22, 1795), philosophical writer, son of Rev.
Alexander Gerard (February 22, 1728 – February 22, 1795), philosophical writer, son of Rev.
Antiochus Kantemir
Prince Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir (Антиох Дмитриевич Кантемир in Russian, Antioh Cantemir in Romanian, Dimitri Kantemiroğlu in Turkish, Antioche Cantemir in French; 8 September...
Prince Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir (Антиох Дмитриевич Кантемир in Russian, Antioh Cantemir in Romanian, Dimitri Kantemiroğlu in Turkish, Antioche Cantemir in French; 8 September...
Baron d'Holbach
Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach was a French-German author, philosopher, encyclopedist and a prominent figure in the French Enlightenment.
Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach was a French-German author, philosopher, encyclopedist and a prominent figure in the French Enlightenment.
Bernard Bolzano
Bernhard Placidus Johann Nepomuk Bolzano, Bernard Bolzano in English, was a Bohemian mathematician, logician, philosopher, theologian, Catholic priest and antimilitarist of German mother t...
Bernhard Placidus Johann Nepomuk Bolzano, Bernard Bolzano in English, was a Bohemian mathematician, logician, philosopher, theologian, Catholic priest and antimilitarist of German mother t...
Bic Runga
Jacques-Louis David was an influential French painter in the Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era.
Jacques-Louis David was an influential French painter in the Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era.
Cesare Beccaria
Cesare, Marquis of Beccaria-Bonesana was an Italian jurist, philosopher and politician best known for his treatise On Crimes and Punishments, which condemned torture and the death penalty, a...
Cesare, Marquis of Beccaria-Bonesana was an Italian jurist, philosopher and politician best known for his treatise On Crimes and Punishments, which condemned torture and the death penalty, a...
Christian Thomasius
Christian Thomasius (January 1, 1655 – September 23, 1728) was a German jurist and philosopher.
Christian Thomasius (January 1, 1655 – September 23, 1728) was a German jurist and philosopher.
Christian Wolff (philosopher)
Christian Wolff (less correctly Wolf; also known as Wolfius; ennobled as: Christian Freiherr von Wolff; 24 January 1679 – 9 April 1754) was a German philosopher.
Christian Wolff (less correctly Wolf; also known as Wolfius; ennobled as: Christian Freiherr von Wolff; 24 January 1679 – 9 April 1754) was a German philosopher.
Cornelius de Pauw
Cornelius Franciscus de Pauw or Cornelis de Pauw (Corneille de Pauw in French; 18 August 1739 — 5 July 1799) was a Dutch philosopher, geographer and diplomat at the court of Fred...
Cornelius Franciscus de Pauw or Cornelis de Pauw (Corneille de Pauw in French; 18 August 1739 — 5 July 1799) was a Dutch philosopher, geographer and diplomat at the court of Fred...
D'Holbach's Coterie
D'Holbach's Coterie (la coterie holbachique was the phrase coined by Jean-Jacques Rousseau) was a group of radical French Enlightenment thinkers who met regularly at the salon of the ath...
D'Holbach's Coterie (la coterie holbachique was the phrase coined by Jean-Jacques Rousseau) was a group of radical French Enlightenment thinkers who met regularly at the salon of the ath...
Daniel Raymond
Daniel Raymond (1786–1849) was the first important political economist to appear in the United States.
Daniel Raymond (1786–1849) was the first important political economist to appear in the United States.
David Fordyce
David Fordyce was a Scottish philosopher, a contributor to the Scottish Enlightenment.
David Fordyce was a Scottish philosopher, a contributor to the Scottish Enlightenment.
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and scepticism.
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and scepticism.
Dimitrie Cantemir
Dimitrie Cantemir (; 1673–1723) was twice Prince of Moldavia (in March–April 1693 and in 1710–1711).
Dimitrie Cantemir (; 1673–1723) was twice Prince of Moldavia (in March–April 1693 and in 1710–1711).
Dugald Stewart
Dugald Stewart (November 22, 1753 - June 11, 1828) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician.
Dugald Stewart (November 22, 1753 - June 11, 1828) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician.
Emanuel Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Swedberg; January 29, 1688 – March 29, 1772) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, theologian and Christian mystic.
Emanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Swedberg; January 29, 1688 – March 29, 1772) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, theologian and Christian mystic.
Eugenio Espejo
Francisco Javier Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo (Royal Audiencia of Quito, 1747–1795) was a medical pioneer, writer and lawyer of mestizo origin in colonial Ecuador.
Francisco Javier Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo (Royal Audiencia of Quito, 1747–1795) was a medical pioneer, writer and lawyer of mestizo origin in colonial Ecuador.
Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)
Francis Hutcheson (8 August 1694 – 8 August 1746) was a philosopher born in Ireland to a family of Scottish Presbyterians who became one of the founding fathers of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Francis Hutcheson (8 August 1694 – 8 August 1746) was a philosopher born in Ireland to a family of Scottish Presbyterians who became one of the founding fathers of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Franciscus van den Enden
Franciscus van den Enden (Antwerp c. 5 February 1602 - Paris, 27 November 1674) was a former Jesuit, Neo-Latin poet, physician, art dealer, philosopher and plotter against Louis XIV of France an...
Franciscus van den Enden (Antwerp c. 5 February 1602 - Paris, 27 November 1674) was a former Jesuit, Neo-Latin poet, physician, art dealer, philosopher and plotter against Louis XIV of France an...
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright.
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright.
Friedrich Schleiermacher
Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher was a German theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar known for his attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestan...
Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher was a German theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar known for his attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestan...
Gabriel Bonnot de Mably
Gabriel Bonnot de Mably (Grenoble, 14 March 1709 – 2 April 1785 in Paris), sometimes known as Abbé de Mably, was a French philosopher and politician.
Gabriel Bonnot de Mably (Grenoble, 14 March 1709 – 2 April 1785 in Paris), sometimes known as Abbé de Mably, was a French philosopher and politician.
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was an Asturian-born Spanish neoclassical statesman, author, philosopher and a major figure of the Age of Enlightenment in Spain.
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was an Asturian-born Spanish neoclassical statesman, author, philosopher and a major figure of the Age of Enlightenment in Spain.
George Berkeley
George Berkeley, also known as Bishop Berkeley, was an Anglo-Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism".
George Berkeley, also known as Bishop Berkeley, was an Anglo-Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism".
George Turnbull (theologian)
George Turnbull (July 11, 1698 – 1748) was a Scottish philosopher, theologian, teacher, writer on education and an early but little-known figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.
George Turnbull (July 11, 1698 – 1748) was a Scottish philosopher, theologian, teacher, writer on education and an early but little-known figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.
Giambattista Vico
Giovanni Battista Giambattista Vico Vico or Vigo was an Italian political philosopher, rhetorician, historian, and jurist.
Giovanni Battista Giambattista Vico Vico or Vigo was an Italian political philosopher, rhetorician, historian, and jurist.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (sometimes von Leibniz) ( or ) (July 1, 1646 – November 14, 1716) was a German mathematician and philosopher.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (sometimes von Leibniz) ( or ) (July 1, 1646 – November 14, 1716) was a German mathematician and philosopher.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era.
Henry Home, Lord Kames
Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696 27 December 1782) was a Scottish advocate, judge, philosopher, writer and agricultural improver.
Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696 27 December 1782) was a Scottish advocate, judge, philosopher, writer and agricultural improver.
Henry More
Henry More (October 12, 1614 – September 1, 1687) was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.
Henry More (October 12, 1614 – September 1, 1687) was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.
Hryhorii Skovoroda
Hryhorii Savych Skovoroda was a Ukrainian philosopher, poet, teacher and composer who lived in the Russian Empire and who made important contributions to Russian philosophy and culture.
Hryhorii Savych Skovoroda was a Ukrainian philosopher, poet, teacher and composer who lived in the Russian Empire and who made important contributions to Russian philosophy and culture.
Hugh Blair
Hugh Blair FRSE (7 April 1718–27 December 1800) was a Scottish minister of religion, author and rhetorician, considered one of the first great theorists of written discourse.
Hugh Blair FRSE (7 April 1718–27 December 1800) was a Scottish minister of religion, author and rhetorician, considered one of the first great theorists of written discourse.
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius (10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645), also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic.
Hugo Grotius (10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645), also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic.
Hugo Kołłątaj
Hugo Kołłątaj was a Polish Roman Catholic priest, social and political activist, political thinker, historian and philosopher.
Hugo Kołłątaj was a Polish Roman Catholic priest, social and political activist, political thinker, historian and philosopher.
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg, researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th century Enlightenment.
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg, researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th century Enlightenment.
Jacques-André Naigeon
Jacques-André Naigeon was a French artist, atheist philosopher, editor and man of letters best known for his contributions to the Encyclopédie and for reworking Baron d'Holbach's and Diderot...
Jacques-André Naigeon was a French artist, atheist philosopher, editor and man of letters best known for his contributions to the Encyclopédie and for reworking Baron d'Holbach's and Diderot...
Jakob Lorber
Jakob Lorber was a Styrian Christian mystic and visionary who promoted liberal Universalism.
Jakob Lorber was a Styrian Christian mystic and visionary who promoted liberal Universalism.
Jan Śniadecki
Jan Śniadecki (August 29, 1756– November 9, 1830) was a Polish mathematician, philosopher and astronomer at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Jan Śniadecki (August 29, 1756– November 9, 1830) was a Polish mathematician, philosopher and astronomer at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism of French expression.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism of French expression.
Johann Georg Heinrich Feder
Johann Georg Heinrich Feder (15 May 1740 in Schornweisach – 22 May 1821 in Hanover) was a German philosopher.
Johann Georg Heinrich Feder (15 May 1740 in Schornweisach – 22 May 1821 in Hanover) was a German philosopher.
Johann Gottfried Herder
Johann Gottfried von Herder (25 August 174418 December 1803) was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic.
Johann Gottfried von Herder (25 August 174418 December 1803) was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic.
Johannes van den Driesche
Johannes van den Driesche or Drusius
Protestant divine, distinguished specially as an Orientalist, Christian Hebraist and exegete, was born at Oudenarde, in Flanders.
Johannes van den Driesche or Drusius
Protestant divine, distinguished specially as an Orientalist, Christian Hebraist and exegete, was born at Oudenarde, in Flanders.
John Locke
John Locke FRS, widely known as the Father of Classical Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers.
John Locke FRS, widely known as the Father of Classical Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers.
John Millar (philosopher)
John Millar of Glasgow (June 22, 1735 – May 30, 1801) was a Scottish philosopher, historian and Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Glasgow from 1761 to 1800.
John Millar of Glasgow (June 22, 1735 – May 30, 1801) was a Scottish philosopher, historian and Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Glasgow from 1761 to 1800.
John Toland
John Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early exp...
John Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early exp...
Jędrzej Śniadecki
Jędrzej Śniadecki (archaic Andrew Sniadecki; 30 November 1768 – 12 May 1838) was a Polish writer, physician, chemist and biologist.
Jędrzej Śniadecki (archaic Andrew Sniadecki; 30 November 1768 – 12 May 1838) was a Polish writer, physician, chemist and biologist.
Marquis de Condorcet
Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet, known as Nicolas de Condorcet, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and early political scientist whose Condorcet method'...
Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet, known as Nicolas de Condorcet, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and early political scientist whose Condorcet method'...
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights.
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights.
Mikhail Shcherbatov
Prince Mikhailo Mikhailovich Shcherbatov was a leading ideologue and exponent of the Russian Enlightenment, on the par with Mikhail Lomonosov and Nikolay Novikov.
Prince Mikhailo Mikhailovich Shcherbatov was a leading ideologue and exponent of the Russian Enlightenment, on the par with Mikhail Lomonosov and Nikolay Novikov.
Montesquieu
Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Enli...
Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Enli...
Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher to whose ideas the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah is indebted.
Moses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher to whose ideas the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah is indebted.
Nicolas Antoine Boulanger
Nicolas Antoine Boulanger was a French philosopher and man of letters during the Age of Enlightenment.
Nicolas Antoine Boulanger was a French philosopher and man of letters during the Age of Enlightenment.
Petrus Cunaeus
Petrus Cunaeus was the pen name of the Dutch Christian scholar Peter van der Kun.
Petrus Cunaeus was the pen name of the Dutch Christian scholar Peter van der Kun.
René Descartes
René Descartes (; Latinized form: Renatus Cartesius; adjectival form: "Cartesian"; 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650) was a French philosopher, mathematician, and writer who spent most of his...
René Descartes (; Latinized form: Renatus Cartesius; adjectival form: "Cartesian"; 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650) was a French philosopher, mathematician, and writer who spent most of his...
Richard Price
Richard Price was a Welsh moral philosopher and preacher in the tradition of English Dissenters, and a political pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the Americ...
Richard Price was a Welsh moral philosopher and preacher in the tradition of English Dissenters, and a political pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the Americ...
Samuel Clarke
Samuel Clarke (11 October 1675 – 17 May 1729) was an English philosopher and Anglican clergyman.
Samuel Clarke (11 October 1675 – 17 May 1729) was an English philosopher and Anglican clergyman.
Stanisław Staszic
Stanisław Wawrzyniec Staszic was a leading figure in the Polish Enlightenment — Catholic priest, philosopher, geologist, writer, poet, translator and statesman.
Stanisław Wawrzyniec Staszic was a leading figure in the Polish Enlightenment — Catholic priest, philosopher, geologist, writer, poet, translator and statesman.
Sylvain Maréchal
Sylvain Maréchal (15 August 1750, Paris – 18 January 1803, Montrouge, Hauts-de-Seine) was a French essayist, poet, philosopher, and, as a political theorist, precursor of utopian socialism and c...
Sylvain Maréchal (15 August 1750, Paris – 18 January 1803, Montrouge, Hauts-de-Seine) was a French essayist, poet, philosopher, and, as a political theorist, precursor of utopian socialism and c...
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 (April 2, 1743 O.S.) – July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence (1776) and...
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 (April 2, 1743 O.S.) – July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence (1776) and...
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was an English-American author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Thomas Paine was an English-American author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Thomas Reid
The Reverend Thomas Reid FRSE, was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher, and a contemporary of David Hume, was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense, and played an integral ro...
The Reverend Thomas Reid FRSE, was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher, and a contemporary of David Hume, was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense, and played an integral ro...
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire (; 21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit...
François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire (; 21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit...
William Cleghorn
William Cleghorn (1718 – August 1754) was a British philosopher.
William Cleghorn (1718 – August 1754) was a British philosopher.
William Ogilvie of Pittensear
William Ogilvie of Pittensear—the ‘rebel professor’—was the 18th century Scottish author of an influential historic land reform treatise.
William Ogilvie of Pittensear—the ‘rebel professor’—was the 18th century Scottish author of an influential historic land reform treatise.
Étienne Bonnot de Condillac
Étienne Bonnot de Condillac (30 September 1715 – 3 August 1780) was a French philosopher and epistemologist who studied in such areas as psychology and the philosophy of the mind.
Étienne Bonnot de Condillac (30 September 1715 – 3 August 1780) was a French philosopher and epistemologist who studied in such areas as psychology and the philosophy of the mind.