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Analysis Of The Age Of Enlightenment

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Questioning, researching and trying to learn more is a method that improves the individual, their society and future societies. A superior example of this is the Age of Enlightenment. This was a period of time, during the late 17th and 18th century in Europe, when people were questioning traditional ways of living and knowing. The Enlightenment was a time that emphasized individualism and reason in place of tradition. This was also when people questioned religious, economic and social issues, especially the philosophers. Specifically, the philosophers were people who wanted to discover new ways to understand and improve their society. The main idea of the Enlightenment philosophers was to give the individual freedom in all aspects of their …show more content…

Voltaire discusses his view of many religions in his book entitled Letters Concerning the English Nation. He evaluates the awful results when only one or two religions are present and then he explains, “... but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace” (Voltaire). In other words, the philosopher means that if individuals have the freedom to choose the religion they believe in, it allows all the people to live happily and in peace. In the long run, this supports the main idea, because by giving the individual the power to make their own decision, it adds to the amount of liberty the individual …show more content…

In the book, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, written by Mary Wollstonecraft’s, she talks about her view of making women and men equal. She states, “To render [make] mankind more virtuous, and happier of course, both sexes must act from the same principle;... women must be allowed to found their virtues on knowledge” (Wollstonecraft). This shows Wollstonecraft’s egalitarian beliefs. She explained that to make men and women equal, they must treat women the same as men and give women the freedom to have an education and gain knowledge. By giving women the same rights as men, the state of equality is possible and they have the same amount of freedom. Wollstonecraft also divulged, “Make them free, and they will quickly become wise and virtuous…” (Wollstonecraft). This is a reason she gives as to why making women free will be beneficial. All in all, Wollstonecraft’s concept of giving women freedom, connect back to the main idea of the philosophers to give the individual

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