The Ideas of Enlightened philisophes

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that spread across Europe between 1740 and 1789 - writers and thinkers challenged the views that were accepted at the time regarding religion, nature and absolute monarchy. they considered the nature of society and social relationships, exploring the concepts of freedom, liberty and equality. the Enlightenment had a particularly strong influence in France.

The Philosophes:

These were the French Enlightenment writers and thinkers. Many of them contributed to the most important work of the French Enlightenment - The Encyclopaedia - edited by Diderot and published between 1750-72. The aim of the book was 'to change the way people think'. Articles dealt with topics such as 'reason' but also with agricultural techniques, printing and metalworking. Its scientific approach directly challenged ideas held by the Church and other institutions and caused huge controversy. Some in the church wanted it suppressed.

The three most influential philosophes were Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. They expressed a deep dislike of organised religion and discussed how soical and political institutions might be changed for the good of the people. They questioned Ancien Regime institutions however, they did not enforse revolution.

• Montesqueiu criticised royal…