Marissa Kellaway

World History

T/R 1st

February 24, 2017

The Enlightenment Philosophers Main Idea

The common belief is that women are not as smart as men...before the the Enlightenment

period, that is. In the 17th and 18th century, the Enlightenment period was at its peak of the

fabrication of theories and revelations from philosophers. These Enlightenment philosophers

believed that if there are natural laws in science, the same could be said about government and

economics. After this realization, philosophers were on a mission to discover better ways to

understand and improve society. The main idea of the philosophers John Locke, Voltaire, Adam

Smith and Mary Wollstonecraft of the Enlightenment period was that people should have

individual rights and freedom.

John Locke was an influential philosopher that lived during the English Civil War and the

Glorious Revolution, so he saw the government develop and change. In John Lockes

philosophical writing about government, it is clear his main idea was that he believed people

have their own independent rights and ability to control their government. (W)e must consider,

what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions,

and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of

nature Second Treasties on Civil Government, 1690 (Document A). John Locke theorized

that people are capable of preserving their society the way they think is best, which they can do

by making the government the way they want it.

Voltaire was a leading philosopher and supporter of religious tolerance. In Voltaires

Letters Concerning the English Nation, Voltaire wrote of the Royal Exchange trading center,
where he depicted people of different religions trading together peacefully. There the Jew, the

Mahometan (Muslim), and the Christian transact together as tho they all professed the same

religion. (Document B). Voltaires foremost belief was that people should be accepting of other

religions. If people are accepting of other religions, people will be free to believe in whatever

religion they choose.

Adam Smith, a philosopher during the Age of Reason, supported an economic system

based on individual decision making because he believed people have the right to pursue their

own interests. He believed that an economic system in which people are in charge of their own

economy was better than an economy that practiced mercantilism. Mercantilism was an economy

in which the government controlled the regulation of trade with intentions to make the country

rich. (H)e intends only his own gain, and he is in this led by an invisible hand to promote an

end which was no part of his intention. .. The Wealth of Nations, 1776 (Document C). When

people pursue their own economic gain, it not only benefits the annual revenue of society as

mercantilism does, but it also benefits the people. Adam Smiths views on the economy strongly

advocated for the individual freedom of the people.

Mary Wollstonecraft was a British author and philosopher during the Enlightenment

period who believed women should be given the same rights and opportunities as men. Before

the Enlightenment period, the majority of people believed women should remain dependent on

men. Mary Wollstonecraft used reason and experience to present a different opinion. Her beliefs

were that men and women should be given the same opportunities, for example, women should

be educated, and they should be educated the same way as men. ...women must be allowed to

found their virtue on knowledge, which is scarcely possible unless they be educated by the same
pursuits as men. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792 (Document D). Mary

Wollstonecrafts main idea was that women should have the same rights as men.

The main idea of the philosophers John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary

Wollstonecraft of the Enlightenment period had in common was that people should have

individual rights and freedom. Even though each of the philosophers mentioned focus on

different topics, the general theme of their ideas is individual freedom. These philosophers set

the tone for the future because our present day greatly reflects their beliefs. The ideas of

individual rights and freedom started to take root and become a large part of our lives because of

the Enlightenment period.