Ideas During The Enlightenment Essay
During the Enlightenment, French philosophers introduced several ideas relating to thought and reason. This cultural movement brought a different way of thinking. Philosophers, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and Baron Charles Montesquieu had similar thoughts on society, reason, and the government. These philosophers had five shared beliefs. The first belief is that thinkers can find the truth by using reason. The second belief is that what is natural is good. For example, human actions are shaped by natural laws. The third belief is acting in accordance with nature and the happiness it can bring if people get close to it. The fourth belief is that by taking a scientific approach, society can improve and advance towards a better way of living.
…show more content…
Rousseau deeply believed that humans are innately good and innocent and that life experiences and society cause their corruption, thus the Social Contract was formed in April 1762. This contract states that in order stop society’s corruption, one must be good and have good intentions towards others. In other words, he believed that if society were to vanish, people would be pure and happy once again ( ). He affected the government by setting boundaries between the government and citizens and became a foundation for sovereignty. He wanted liberty and equality. Another idea from Rousseau was to get as close as possible to nature. Nature would bring people happiness. This could be interpreted in many ways. Rousseau was just interested in people being more natural and true. His views about society coincide with the beliefs of Voltaire.
Francois Arouet, known as Voltaire, was a writer during the Age of Reason who was influenced by Britain, Newton, and Locke. Like Montesquieu, he, too, disliked democracy. He believed that common people were too emotional to be able to govern themselves. Voltaire argued that the world would improve as ignorance and superstition were replaced by more knowledge (). He fought for tolerance, freedom of religious belief, and reason. His ideas were implemented in the Unites States Bill of Rights and in the
Rousseau deeply believed that humans are innately good and innocent and that life experiences and society cause their corruption, thus the Social Contract was formed in April 1762. This contract states that in order stop society’s corruption, one must be good and have good intentions towards others. In other words, he believed that if society were to vanish, people would be pure and happy once again ( ). He affected the government by setting boundaries between the government and citizens and became a foundation for sovereignty. He wanted liberty and equality. Another idea from Rousseau was to get as close as possible to nature. Nature would bring people happiness. This could be interpreted in many ways. Rousseau was just interested in people being more natural and true. His views about society coincide with the beliefs of Voltaire.
Francois Arouet, known as Voltaire, was a writer during the Age of Reason who was influenced by Britain, Newton, and Locke. Like Montesquieu, he, too, disliked democracy. He believed that common people were too emotional to be able to govern themselves. Voltaire argued that the world would improve as ignorance and superstition were replaced by more knowledge (). He fought for tolerance, freedom of religious belief, and reason. His ideas were implemented in the Unites States Bill of Rights and in the