Rousseau's Main Ideas:
1. Social Contract: Rousseau's influential Social Contract theory proposed that legitimate government should originate from the consent of the governed. He maintained that people had given up some of their natural freedoms to establish stable societies.
2. General Will: Rousseau also discussed the concept of a "general will," which is the collective manifestation of the wills of all citizens. The general will, he asserted, should serve as the foundation of all legitimate laws.
3. Equality and Education: Rousseau supported social and economic equality, arguing that inequalities lead to corruption. He also placed great importance on education as a means to foster virtuous and responsible citizens.
4. Liberty in Nature: Rousseau believed that man is naturally free and good but becomes corrupted by society. He envisioned a return to a more natural and virtuous state.
Voltaire's Key Ideas:
1. Freedom of Thought and Speech: Voltaire was a staunch defender of freedom of thought and expression, even if it meant criticizing established institutions and beliefs. He argued that this freedom was vital for the progress of society.
2. Reason and Criticism: Voltaire emphasized the use of reason and critical thinking to scrutinize and challenge authority, tradition, and conventional wisdom. He believed in the power of logic to expose superstition and dogmatism.
3. Separation of Church and State: Voltaire supported the separation of church and state, maintaining that religious institutions had no place in political matters. He advocated for a secular government independent of religious influence.
4. Enlightened Despotism: Voltaire initially supported "enlightened despotism" - the idea that an absolute monarch guided by rational principles of governance could foster progress and prosperity for their subjects.
These ideas sparked significant debate and intellectual ferment in France, contributing to the widespread dissatisfaction with the existing aristocratic and absolutist order. They fueled the desire for greater rights, freedoms, and more just and representative forms of government. These enlightened ideals laid the groundwork for the French Revolution and the subsequent transformations that profoundly reshaped the nation and influenced subsequent events in world history.