Who were the philosophes, and what impact have their ideas had on our modern-day lives?

Philosophers 18th century enlightenment thinkers who wanted to change the world; their ideas specifically their belief in natural leaders and human reasoning lead to the scientific revolution and the development of social sciences; this thinking laid the ground work for democratic government particularly the works of Monte's, Voltaire, Rousseau, Locke; the bill of rights declaration of independence and the constitution were all based on ideas of the enlightenment.