Enlightenment And The Enlightenment - 907 Words

During the late 17th-18th century Enlightenment, people began to question the norms that had previously blindly accepted. Philosophes emerged, trying to find new ways to understand and improve their society. Using observation and reason, these philosophes uncovered natural laws of existence - patterns in nature and human behavior that could be used to understand the truth of all things and could improve human activities. All four of the Enlightenment philosophers emphasized people’s personal freedom in choosing their own political, religious, economic, and societal alignments, as long as in attaining their natural rights, people didn’t infringe on others’, because in doing so, they will benefit the whole society. According to John†¦show more content†¦The different religions confide in one another and perform tasks as a whole, like they were of the same backgrounds. Voltaire recommended that England apply this idea to their own society and politics becau se when there is a â€Å"multitude [of religions, the people] live happy and in peace.† (Doc B) He explained that allowing only one religion would make England tyrannical, and allowing just two would cause extreme conflict between religions, so the government should tolerate and encourage many different religious beliefs. According to Voltaire, this religious freedom would benefit the people on two fronts: in giving them a right to choose, and in making their society more advanced and efficient by allowing numerous perspectives on influential matters and preventing violent belief clashes. Adam Smith, an Enlightenment economist, advocated for a laissez-faire approach to the economy, leaving the citizens the right to control their economic system. He recommended that the government deregulate trade and allow people to be â€Å"perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way.† (Doc C) Since people work for their own benefit, Smith argued that the workers, while s triving for their own economic gain, would ultimately benefit the entire society, â€Å"led by an invisible hand,† (Doc C) which would equate the supply and demand of the free market. By giving people the right to decide how theShow MoreRelatedEnlightenment : The Age Of Enlightenment And The Enlightenment782 Words   |  4 Pages The Enlightenment or The Age of Reason was an European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. The ideas during this period were about God, reason, nature, and developments in art, philosophy, and politics. The â€Å"Enlightenment thinkers† affected the development of the United States Government. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution Bill of rights and The Federalist Papers were all influenced by important enlightenment ideas of freedom, unavailable rights, and government. DeclarationRead MoreThe Enlightenment And The Enlightenment907 Words   |  4 PagesThe Enlightenment was an intellectual movement during the 17th and 18th century when the philosophers and scientists started examining the world through human intellect and reason. It is a new way of thinking which allowed human improvement. Generally, the enlightenment thinkers thought without prejudice. This cultural movement led to many new developments, ideas, and inventions in science, art, politics and philosophy. Reason guides human affairs. Science over religion, belief in freedom, libertyRead MoreThe Enlightenment : The Ideas Of The Enlightenment720 Words   |  3 PagesDuring the Enlightenment era, both elite culture and popular culture had influences, philosophers dominating the ideals of the time period. 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For example, Immanuel Kant explored human experiences, Montesquieu believed that there should be three branches of government, and John Locke believed in the social contract and the ability to own life, liberty and property. The ideas of the Enlightenment drastically changed the worldRead MoreThe Enlightenment1278 Words   |  6 Pages World Literature The Enlightenment’s Impact on the Modern World The Enlightenment, Age of Reason, began in the late 17th and 18th century. This was a period in Europe and America when mankind was emerging from centuries of ignorance into a new age enlightened by reason, science, and respect for humanity. This period promoted scientific thought, skeptics, and intellectual interchange: dismissing superstition, intolerance, and for some, religion. Western Europe, Germany, France, and Great BritainRead MoreThe Enlightenment : Main Ideas Of The Enlightenment800 Words   |  4 Pagesfreedom was another prominent theme of the Enlightenment. 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