The enlightenment involved a period of thinkers that abandons Christian authority, Aristotelian philosophy, and other traditional authority. Much like the scientific revolutionary Isaac Newton, these European and Euro-American thinkers that the world should be explained through science and reason.
One of the key players were John Locke, born in 1632, he was interested in the workings of politics. He believed that the power resided in the people, and that sovereignty is not held by the king. He also believed that educational institutions were incredibly important to raise the intelligence of populations.
Adam smith, born in 1723, focused his efforts in Economics. He expressed the ideas of "the invisible hand on the market place" and defined the rules of supply and demand.
Baron de Montesquieu, born in 1689, was a philosopher in politics. He believed that the government should have "checks and balances" as well as "separation of powers". He viewed the world in a pessimistic sense.
Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as his publishing name Voltaire, was active against religious rule. He wrote thousands of letters and wrote his first book when he was under twenty years old. He believed in freedom of expression and his battle cry was “écrasez l'infâme” (“let us crush the evil thing”), referring to religious superstition.
Diderot, born in 1713, was one of the first among others to formulate an encyclopedia. He believed that knowledge would lead to greater progress therefore bringing happiness.
These "philosophes" are what characterized the enlightenment. Their ideology revolved around the sense of progress and greater human understanding. The enlightenment was also brought by the memory of wrenching wars and the knowledge of non-euro societies. These factors and the scientific revolution brought fresh insight to these philosophes and perceived the natural world and human understanding in a more scientific and reasonable view.
We can see the enlightenment is connected to the American Revolution in 1776, and the French Revolution in 1789, through the documents during or around that time. In the "Declaration of Independence", Thomas Jefferson speaks of the power and rule should reside in the "consent of the governed".Clearly, it shows John Lockes ideas of placing the sovereignty in the hands of citizens and not rulers. Jean Jacques Rousseau believed in equality of men and argued against Aristocratic privilege. His ideas are present in the French document preceding the French Revolution "The Declaration of Man and Citizen". It sparks of equality and Voltaire's ideas of freedom of expression.
One of the key players were John Locke, born in 1632, he was interested in the workings of politics. He believed that the power resided in the people, and that sovereignty is not held by the king. He also believed that educational institutions were incredibly important to raise the intelligence of populations.
Adam smith, born in 1723, focused his efforts in Economics. He expressed the ideas of "the invisible hand on the market place" and defined the rules of supply and demand.
Baron de Montesquieu, born in 1689, was a philosopher in politics. He believed that the government should have "checks and balances" as well as "separation of powers". He viewed the world in a pessimistic sense.
Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as his publishing name Voltaire, was active against religious rule. He wrote thousands of letters and wrote his first book when he was under twenty years old. He believed in freedom of expression and his battle cry was “écrasez l'infâme” (“let us crush the evil thing”), referring to religious superstition.
Diderot, born in 1713, was one of the first among others to formulate an encyclopedia. He believed that knowledge would lead to greater progress therefore bringing happiness.
These "philosophes" are what characterized the enlightenment. Their ideology revolved around the sense of progress and greater human understanding. The enlightenment was also brought by the memory of wrenching wars and the knowledge of non-euro societies. These factors and the scientific revolution brought fresh insight to these philosophes and perceived the natural world and human understanding in a more scientific and reasonable view.
We can see the enlightenment is connected to the American Revolution in 1776, and the French Revolution in 1789, through the documents during or around that time. In the "Declaration of Independence", Thomas Jefferson speaks of the power and rule should reside in the "consent of the governed".Clearly, it shows John Lockes ideas of placing the sovereignty in the hands of citizens and not rulers. Jean Jacques Rousseau believed in equality of men and argued against Aristocratic privilege. His ideas are present in the French document preceding the French Revolution "The Declaration of Man and Citizen". It sparks of equality and Voltaire's ideas of freedom of expression.
