Final answer:
Social entrepreneurs like Maria Montessori and Florence Nightingale are historical figures who proposed innovative solutions to societal problems, influenced by progresses in social justice from the 18th through the 20th centuries, and inspired the emergence of NGOs and global social reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Social Entrepreneurs in History
Historical figures like Maria Montessori and Florence Nightingale exemplify social entrepreneurs who identified social issues and addressed them through innovative educational and healthcare models, respectively.
These pioneers were akin to early progressive thinkers and reformers who sought to correct what they perceived as societal ills through the promotion of social justice and equity.
Looking at the 18th century, philosophers like John Locke and Voltaire proposed frameworks for understanding social life with an eye toward reform, which in many cases evolved into quests for social entrepreneurship.
The early socialist movements like the Saint-Simonians and Owenites demonstrated utopian socialism, promoting moral values against economic competition and egoism.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the work of the Progressives, such as Jane Addams and her contribution to the settlement house movement, further exemplified social entrepreneurship.
These efforts extended to providing social services, education, and healthcare to the working poor and marginalized societies.
Noteworthy also were individuals like Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, who epitomized the social entrepreneur by creating an organization dedicated to aiding soldiers in war.
Through the establishment of NGOs and movements focused on environment and social reforms, social entrepreneurs have played and continue to play a crucial role in shaping civil society and pushing for systemic change on a global scale.