What is the term for Enlightenment thinkers who contributed to political philosophy?

The term "philosophes" refers to the influential Enlightenment thinkers who focused on reforming society and promoting reason, individualism, and skepticism of authority. They emphasized critical thinking and advocated for ideas such as liberty, democracy, and the separation of church and state. Prominent figures among the philosophes include John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu, who used reason and rational discourse to challenge existing norms and advocate for political change. Their writings laid the foundation for modern political philosophy and significantly impacted the development of democratic principles and human rights.

The other terms—rationalists, empiricists, and humanists—are associated with distinct philosophical movements but do not specifically highlight the political contributions made by Enlightenment thinkers in the same way as philosophes. Rationalists focus on reason as the primary source of knowledge, empiricists emphasize experience and observation, and humanists are concerned with the study of human values and achievements rather than political philosophy alone.