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The Enlightenment And The Enlightenment During The Scientific Revolution

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“Have the courage to use your own intelligence! Is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment,” (Kant). The Enlightenment consisted of the ideas of nature, reason, progress, and optimism. Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist during the Scientific Revolution, greatly influenced the Enlightenment due to his stance on natural law. The idea of a social contract, where the power to govern came from the consent of the governed, was a major force during this time period. Adam Smith, a physiocrat from Great Britain, supported the idea of laissez-faire economics. During this time period, deism, the belief in an impersonal God, was popular due to its logical approach to religion. During the Enlightenment, an egalitarian society formed where the main focus …show more content…

The major influencers of the Enlightenment include John Locke and Isaac Newton, as well as the Renaissance ideals. Similar to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment greatly valued the education of its people, and brought about an age of optimism and rationalism. Another influencer was the British philosopher, John Locke. John Locke described the importance of the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and that nothing should be infringed upon these rights. He was an advocate for fairness in regards to individuals and the government. Locke believed the power of the government should be granted from the consent of the governed. Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, astronomer, theologian, and physicist who greatly contributed to the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution. Newton discovered the Natural Law of Gravity, and gave the first modern scientific synthesis of the physical universe. Newton shared his ideas of natural law, that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature, endowed by nature, and that these can be understood universally through human reason. Essentially, “there was only one universe to discover, and this universe had been discovered by Newton,” (Palmer). He brought about a new feeling of strength in humanity that influenced the Enlightenment. Humans “...were creatures of great capacity in their own right, living in a

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