Age Of Enlightenment - 755 Words

During the 18th century, a worldwide movement, more commonly recognized as the Age of Enlightenment, encouraged the spread of philosophical thinking, science, communications, and politics. This movement gradually branched out from Northern Europe and reached places such as the United States of America and France, encouraging the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment brought about a new age of philosophical and intellectual thinkers, such as John Locke, which helped shape and influence modern government and politics. John Locke is recognized as the father of classical liberalism, introducing the Two Treatises of Government, Social Contract, and private property, which formed the basis for the constitutions in westernized†¦show more content†¦Americas Declaration of Independence.) Natural rights became the staple of Locke’s political philosophy. Locke believed that an individual was born with the right and duty to their own life, including their property. H is idea based off of natural rights has become what he is most commonly recognized for in politics. Much like Locke’s belief in natural rights, he also believed in the social contract theory. The social contract theory is the agreement among people in a society to cooperate in order to receive social benefits. The government could only be a legitimate government with the consent of the people that it governs, along with their agreement to obey its laws (Thompson, Bruce E.R. social contract theory.) If the citizens obey the rules of its government, then the government should protect their natural rights such as their freedom of speech, equality, and property. Locke’s social contract theory became one of the ideas that capital punishment was founded off of, however, he was not the only enlightened thinker to have this theory. Both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes believed in the social contract theory, but they had conflicting ideas. Hobbes believed in an absolute monarchy, a form of government in which Locke was greatly opposed to, and that the people must obey the law, but trying to overthrow their king would be a violation of the contract. In contrast to Locke, who believed that the citizens have the right to rebel against its government if theyShow MoreRelatedAge Of Enlightenment1210 Words   |  5 PagesThe Age of Enlightenment has historically been affiliated with drastic skepticism and revolution in politics, philosophy, science, and communications, amongst other disciplines. In the early eighteenth century, people began to challenge the idea that rulers, spirits, and Catholicism were dominant over other ways of life. Although the Enlightenment primarily prevailed in parts of Europe in countries such as England and France, it was also crucial in determining several aspects of colonial AmericaRead MoreThe Age Of The Enlightenment1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe Age of the Enlightenment during the beginning of the 18th century was a revolution that vanquished the suffocating darkness of superstition that shrouded the Middle Ages. Revolutionary thinkers of the Enlightenment, such as Denis Diderot, Renà © Descartes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, led western civilization out of the darkness of ignorance with a small flame generated by the power of scientific and intellectual reason. For a while, it seemed as though the reason and rationality of EnlightenmentRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightment : The Age Of Enlightenment1161 Words   |  5 PagesThe age of enlightenment took place in the 18th century. This was a time that was characterized by lot of aristocratic wars. 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This new movement described a time in Western philosophy and cultural life in which reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority. ‘To understand the natural world and humankinds place in it solely on the basis of reason and without turning to religious belief was the goal of the wide-rangingRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment In Frankenstein835 Words   |  4 Pagesand works of individuals during the Age of Enlightenment. Consequently, many of the ideas and theories that were expressed during the Age of Enlightenment are found throughout Shelley’s gothic novel. Furthermore, the Age of Enlightenment impacted the events depicted in Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein , such as man’s state of nature, as discussed by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. 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(Pictures of Michelangelo s David and Giacometti s Man Pointing 1947). 3. 82: Compare and contrast the cultural values of the Enlightenment with those of the sixteenth century Northern Renaissance. 4. 84: Compare and contrast the views of Machiavelli and Rousseau on human nature and the relationship between government and the governed. 5. 85: ToRead MoreThe Age of Enlightenment Essay2088 Words   |  9 PagesThe Enlightenment was a period in the eighteenth century where change in philosophy and cultural life took place in Europe. The movement started in France, and spread to Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Germany at more or less around the same time, the ideas starting with the most renowned thinkers and philosophers of the time and eventually being shared with the common people. The Enlightenment was a way of thinking that focused on the betterment of humanity by using logic and reason ratherRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment And The Scientific Revolution1675 Words   |  7 Pagesnew social norms and scientific advances. Although the industrial revolution and the scientific revolution represented a giant leap forward in human development, the Age of Enlightenment delivered the greatest influence for the future American society and planted the way for cultural and humanistic enrichment. The Age of th e Enlightenment raised new concepts in education, democracy, and human freedom. The new humanistic philosophy promoted the polish of the human intelligence and made education a longingRead MoreThe Age of Enlightenment in Society634 Words   |  3 Pageseveryone was born with natural rights that are incredibly important to have control over (John Locke). When they were stripped of their privileges it caused many to think of new ideas, or in other words, new inventions. Between the 1600’s and 1790’s enlightenment thinkers changed society with the new concept of putting power in the peoples’ hands. The king took away any self-dignity he could from any individual he may to gain more power for himself. With all of this capability and no one to stop him,