Enlightenment
The Enlightenment
The late sixteen and seventeen hundreds witnessed the Enlightenment, a period which produced new ideas about government. Newton had discovered natural laws governing the universe, many believed there were natural laws governing politics, economics, and other aspects of society as well. Two key figures of this time were Englishmen John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau of France.
John Locke held that knowledge and worldview comes from one’s environment and experiences. He praised reason above simple faith. According to Locke, people could be changed by altering their surroundings. He also challenged the old view that monarchs possess a God-given right to rule. Locke believed that people were born with natural rights that included life, liberty, and property. He also advocated social contract theory. For the good of society, people give up certain freedoms and empower governments to maintain order. Locke taught that citizens have the right to replace any government that fails to serve the public good.
Years later, Rousseau published a work actually entitled The Social Contract, in which argued that the general will of the people acted as a “social contract” which all (citizens and government) should be forced to abide by. His ideas later influenced socialism, nationalism, and the French Revolution.
The late sixteen and seventeen hundreds witnessed the Enlightenment, a period which produced new ideas about government. Newton had discovered natural laws governing the universe, many believed there were natural laws governing politics, economics, and other aspects of society as well. Two key figures of this time were Englishmen John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau of France.
John Locke held that knowledge and worldview comes from one’s environment and experiences. He praised reason above simple faith. According to Locke, people could be changed by altering their surroundings. He also challenged the old view that monarchs possess a God-given right to rule. Locke believed that people were born with natural rights that included life, liberty, and property. He also advocated social contract theory. For the good of society, people give up certain freedoms and empower governments to maintain order. Locke taught that citizens have the right to replace any government that fails to serve the public good.
Years later, Rousseau published a work actually entitled The Social Contract, in which argued that the general will of the people acted as a “social contract” which all (citizens and government) should be forced to abide by. His ideas later influenced socialism, nationalism, and the French Revolution.