The main philosophers of the Enlightenment
The leading philosophers of the Enlightenment were mostly upper class scholars. A particularly well-known philosopher is Voltaire, and his work Candide whose character endures in optimism. We also talk a lot about Denis Diderot, who contributed to the realization of the Encyclopedia, author in particular of the famous work Jacques le Fataliste .
At this time, following the religious wars, peace finally arrived and the objective was to preserve it. Philosophy criticized society and favored freedom. At that time, we thought of freedom of thought, but also of the ideas of liberalism. As the 18th century slightly precedes the Restoration, the industrialization of Europe, it imperceptibly leaves room for the future liberal thoughts that will soon govern the countries affected by economic capitalism.
Link with Humanism and the Renaissance
The revolutions of the Enlightenment were animated by the philosophers of this century, like Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu. We can make a connection with the humanists -like Rabelais, Montaigne and Erasmus- who asked themselves questions about themselves and their surroundings. Philosophers have also sought this knowledge, and have access to knowledge. From there sprang the Encyclopedia, which brought together the knowledge that men had acquired until then. Thus, nothing would be lost and everything would be known. Take the example of Candide, the character of Voltaire who rejoices in his misfortunes; he travels a lot and always learns more in each region he goes to. During the Age of Enlightenment, we find this transfer of knowledge and this interest in knowledge that manifested itself in the time of Humanism.
We can also speak of the philosophy of Antiquity which fascinated Renaissance humanists. For example, Pic de la Mirandola, a humanist philosopher and theologian, speaks of Plato's philosophy in his texts; in the period of the Enlightenment, it is the century of the philosophers. We are looking again for this lost knowledge of the past, just as the humanists did. We can therefore see that the Enlightenment was inspired by the ideas of the humanists. They followed the movement inaugurated during the Renaissance and improved it, in particular by creating the Encyclopedia which can indeed be called a revolution. Without the Humanists, the Enlightenment would not have been as advanced and would not have had the same numbers.