Timeline
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1677Ethics by Baruch Spinoza is published.
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1721Montesquieu publishes his Lettres persanes (Persian Letters).
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1726Francis Hutcheson coins the term "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" in his Inquiry Concerning Moral Good and Evil.
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1734Voltaire publishes his Letters on England.
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1740David Hume publishes his A Treatise of Human Nature.
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1748David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.
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1748Montesquieu publishes his The Spirit of the Laws where he outlines his separation of powers.
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1750Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his First Discourse.
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1751The monumental Encyclopedia, edited by Denis Diderot, is published.
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1751David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
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1751The Catholic Church adds Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws to the Index of Forbidden Books.
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1755Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his Second Discourse.
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1756Voltaire publishes his Essay on the Manners and Spirit of Nations.
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1757David Hume publishes his Dissertation on the Passions.
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1759Voltaire publishes his Candide.
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1759Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published.
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1759 - 1797Life of the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.
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1762Voltaire publishes his Treatise on Tolerance.
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1762Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes The Social Contract.
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1762Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his treatise on education Émile.
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1764Voltaire publishes his Philosophical Dictionary.
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1766Voltaire publishes his Ignorant Philosopher.
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1773 - 1774Denis Diderot spends five months advising Catherine the Great.
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1776Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is published.
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1776 - 1788Edward Gibbon publishes his The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
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1781Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Pure Reason.
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1788Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Practical Reason.
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1789Jeremy Bentham publishes his thoughts on utilitarianism in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
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1790Edmund Burke publishes his Reflections on the Revolution in France.
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1791Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 1.
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1792Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is published.
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1792Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 2.
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1794Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 1.
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1795Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 2.
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1796Thomas Paine publishes his Agrarian Justice.
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1821Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot is first published.
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1830D’Alembert’s Dream by Denis Diderot is first published.
