John Locke's main idea is that natural rights—life, liberty, and property—should be protected by the government. A good thing about this idea is that it supports individual freedom and keeps government power in check, but a downside is that it might ignore social inequalities by focusing too much on individual rights.
Thomas Hobbes thought that life in a state of nature is chaotic, requiring a strong government. This idea shows the need for order to avoid chaos, but a negative side is that it can lead to an abusive government, which limits personal freedoms for the sake of security.
Voltaire supported free speech and religious tolerance, encouraging people to think critically and make progress by questioning ideas. However, unrestricted free speech can also let harmful and hateful ideas spread without any consequences.
Montesquieu came up with the separation of powers to prevent government tyranny. This system helps protect citizens' rights; however, it can make the government slow and unable to make decisions effectively.
Rousseau believed that people are naturally good but become corrupted by society. He promoted the idea of a social contract that supports the majority's wishes. While this encourages community well-being, it can sometimes lead to the oppression of minority opinions in favor of what the majority wants.
John Calvin focused on ideas like predestination and divine grace for salvation. A positive part of this belief is that it encourages people to live morally and be accountable for their actions. On the downside, it can create feelings of helplessness about personal choices and salvation.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter of liberty, democracy, and the separation of church and state, especially seen in the Declaration of Independence. His belief in human rights and personal freedoms is positive, but he owned enslaved people, which goes against his ideas of liberty and equality.
William Blackstone focused on English common law and protecting individual rights. A positive aspect of his work is that it makes legal principles clearer for safeguarding rights, but strictly following the law can result in unfair situations that need more flexibility.
Mary Wollstonecraft fought for women's rights and education, promoting gender equality. This helped pave the way for feminist movements, but her Enlightenment view might not fully represent the varied experiences of all women from different cultures and backgrounds.