John Locke: Locke believed in the idea of natural rights, asserting that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property. A positive aspect of this view is that it promotes individual freedom and a government accountable to its citizens. A negative aspect, however, is that it can lead to conflict when individuals assert their rights in opposition to the rights of others.
Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes argued that in a state of nature, human life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short," necessitating a strong central authority to maintain order. A positive point of his philosophy is that it emphasizes the importance of social contract and government stability for peace. Conversely, a negative aspect is that it can justify authoritarian rule and suppress individual freedoms.
Voltaire: Voltaire championed civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech and religion, advocating for rationality and tolerance. A major positive of his view is that it laid the groundwork for modern democratic principles and individual rights. On the downside, his strong criticism of established institutions could inspire extremism and division, as it sometimes neglects constructive dialogue.