What did the Enlightenment thinkers generally advocate regarding human rights?

Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the idea that human rights are inherent to individuals and must be protected by the government. This perspective marked a significant shift from traditional views of rights that were often seen as privileges granted by monarchs, as well as those linked primarily to religious beliefs. Influential philosophers such as John Locke argued that certain rights, including life, liberty, and property, are natural rights that every person possesses simply by being human.

These ideas laid the groundwork for modern democratic principles, illuminating the need for governments to safeguard these inherent rights. By advocating that rights are not only innate but also the responsibility of the state to uphold, Enlightenment thinkers challenged the notion of absolute monarchy and called for frameworks where government authority could be questioned and limited by the consent of the governed. This laid the foundation for democratic governance and human rights as fundamental principles in modern societies.