The year is 1690 and the respected philosopher and theologian sets down to deal with the thoughts and conflicts of the day. Those issues are many and the conflict broad and opposing positions are firmly held. Locke sets out to cut through the popular chatter and to think through the volume of consideration in the quest of truth. He is not unsuited to the task, but for one man to make an impact on a generation, on a country and on history is a dubious task for anyone. But as he sets and thinks and writes, somehow the detail and interconnectedness of his reasoning builds a context which will in...

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu 18 January 1689 - 10 February 1755), is most generally referred to as Montesquieu. He was a French lawyer, highly educated in the schools of his day, and wrote prolifically of political philosophy. He is most noted for his concepts of the theory of separation of powers in government. His view of humanity was that the quest for power was insatiable and natural and that it was incumbent on the political system to restrict that quest by separating power and being suspicious of its motivations. Montesquieu is credited as initiating a...

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu - 18 January 1689 - 10 February 1755, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French lawyer, man of letters, and political philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He did more than any other author to secure the place of the word despotism in the political lexicon, and may have been partly responsible for the popularization of the terms feudalism."

Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729 - July 9, 1797) was an Irish statesman born in Dublin; author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher, who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain. He was a member of the Whig party. Burke is regarded by most political historians in the English-speaking world as the father of modern English conservatism. He held that the limits of government should be: "That the State ought to confine itself to what regards the State, or the creatures of the State, namely, the exterior establishment of its religion; its...