Which enlightenment thinkers ideas seem especially compatible with representative democracy

Democracy is the form of government familiar to most Westerners. In a democracy, all eligible citizens participate in the development of laws and the administration of the government. They do this either directly or by electing representatives. Democracy has been largely influenced by theories from the Enlightenment - - the cultural and intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. Begun in Europe and later developing in the American colonies, the Enlightenment's purpose was to challenge traditional ideas based in faith and to advance society using scientific and philosophical knowledge.