The Marquis de Condorcet, born in 1743, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and political scientist known for his contributions to the Enlightenment. He advocated for social reforms, including women's rights and universal suffrage, and believed in the power of education to improve society. His work emphasized rational thought and the importance of democracy. Condorcet is best known for the Condorcet method, a voting system that seeks to identify the candidate preferred by the majority. He also wrote "Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind," where he outlined his vision of human progress through reason and science.