The Enlightenment: Thomas Jefferson, Sir Isaac Newton, John Locke

The Enlightenment in Europe is considered to have taken place in the 18th century, however the ideas that were brought forth in this period had started much earlier as people began to look at things like science and explorations long before. Before this period, most Europeans did not think on their own and instead listened to others, such as monarchies and churches, on what they should believe. They mainly listened to what they were told by the monarchy and churches because if they were to go against them, especially the monarchy, they would certainly be killed. This way of thinking changed for the Europeans once they actually studied the sciences of the world around them instead of just accepting what they were told. This went on to lead to the European Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment was mainly influenced by the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century. The revolution has brought the fresh outlook of the world to the public by various scientific discoveries. The enlightenment thinkers advocate the people to use the scientific and rational point of view. It was used to understand and interpret the natural laws of the world through the human reasons rather than the supernatural action. It was made more educated Europeans to increase the acceptance of the scientific views on the physical world.

The Enlightenment movement was vital for the success of the colonies. The colonists started to look to science to explain issues, they turned away from their religion, and they embarked on the journey of gaining knowledge that was crucial for their survival in America. Since the very start of time, there were countless misconceptions in the world. Many religious groups believed that there were “higher powers” that controlled what happened on earth and they looked to everything except science to answer the innumerable questions they had. However, in the 18th century many leaders came to power and started to reveal new thoughts and information to people and it started a movement called the Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment Philosophers were brilliant people who did things that changed the world. The Enlightenment is a story about four philosophers who each had a different story and background. Their main idea was to say what needed to change and happen because of what they believed in. The Philosophers main idea is that they all believe in individual rights and they want to make things right about what they believe was right. John Locke talks about how the state of nature and government worked during his time.

(1) “The movement known as the Enlightenment included writers living at different times in carious countries. Its early exponents, the philosophes, popularized the rationalism and scientific ideas of the 17th century. They exposed contemporary social and political abuses and argued that reform was necessary and possible.” (The Heritage of World Civilizations). This led to tremendous rethinking of religious and moral matters as well as scientific theory.

A Whole New World The intellectual movements of the Enlightenment and the Reformation periods of time changed society through its numerous worldviews including defying the traditions of the pre-established thoughts of the past. This adjustment in worldview impacted society forever through its many views including religion, humanism and overall intellectual freedom. The Protestant Reformation was the sixteenth century religious, political, intellectual and cultural movement that spread across Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would later define the modern era.

Imagine a time where your actions, decisions, and thoughts were controlled by a government, and those ideas were strictly enforced. This was what it was like before the Enlightenment Era, and when this happened, it changed the world forever. The Enlightenment Era was a time period where many different types of people came together to challenge ideas from the time, and think of new ideas that would change the world. There are many people that created new and revolutionary ideas, but the ideas of Wollstonecraft, Locke, Smith, and Voltaire share a common overall idea: freedom and equality. The main ideas of Wollstonecraft, Locke, Smith, and Voltaire are similar because they talk about how every individual should have freedom in society, and that everyone is equal.

The Enlightenment changed the way governments were formed. People were ruled by the government and were not given rights. People were controlled with fear and treated like animals. It led to people questioning and searching for answers which led to the age of reasons. The Enlightenment was the period that philosophers questioning how the government ruled their countries.

The Enlightenment happened during the time period of the 1600’s to the 1700’s. There were many important speakers during this time, for example, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Voltaire. It happened in Europe, more specifically England and France. It happened because people started to question the way the world had been working. Because of that reason, many important ideas were discussed during this time such as the state of nature, social contract, and separation of power.

The enlightenment was an intellectual movement resulting from scientific advances, and it applies critical thought and reasoning to everything, including political systems and its relationship to religion, particularly Christianity. During the enlightenment, ideas were spread and shared more easily due to an increased literacy of the people and because of the invention of the printing press, making it easier to make and distribute newspapers, thus information, to the people. One of the leading personalities during the enlightenment was a man named Voltaire, he was a judge, and was critical of the French government and its absolutism. One of his publications was called “Letters Concerning the English Nation”. He states that the “Social Contract”,