Who Is The Enlightenment?

The enlightenment was during the time period between the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Intellectuals were finally dared to know using their intelligence. This period can be characterized as a time when individuals exercised powers of human reason, reconstruction of government free from absolute control, different religions were tolerated, and an interest in science from the Scientific Revolution era. People were finally able to make their own decisions through key terms of reason, natural laws, hope, and progress. Many people were influential, as well as others being troubling during this time period. A couple of the Enlightenment figures that I admire the most are Voltaire and Montesquieu. There were also two Enlightenment thinkers that I considered troubling. They were Diderot and Rousseau. The Baron de Montesquieu or Charles de Secondat was known for his most famous work,
He is was known as one of the most influential writers of the Enlightenment writing Edipe, Henriade, Philosophic Letters on the English, and Treatise on Toleration. In his writings he wrote about religious intolerance and freedom of thought. I admire Voltaire because he left a lasting legacy in society. He tired to change the world by having them think outside of the traditional values that were followed century after century. Voltaire believed that humans should be able to choose their own religion and be able to live in harmony with everyone in society. He stated “if there was just one religion in England despotism would threaten; if there were two religions, they would cut each other’s throats; but there are thirty religions, and they live together peacefully and happily.” I like how he stood up for people to choose their own religions because we all know too well that if you force a religion on someone then it will only end badly like with wars and