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Bright Ideas Of The Age Of Reason: Sparks That Changed Society

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Title: Bright Ideas of the Age of Reason: Sparks That Changed Society. Introduction: The Age of Reason, a big shift in thought in the 17th and 18th centuries, grew from the Renaissance and the big changes of the Science Revolution. It was a time when people, full of new learnings and free from old chains of not knowing, began to doubt old beliefs and take on the might of clear thought. In this bright age, wise folks all over Europe started a search for the truth, pushing for the rule of human smarts and the free will of folks from old ways and bosses. The main ideas of the Age of Reason - clear thought, being your own person, and making things better in society - truly changed how the West worked, setting off a fire of freedom and open minds …show more content…

Turning away from old fears and set beliefs, thinkers of the Age of Reason praised human skills for smart asking and deep thinking. In Thomas Jefferson's "Declaration of Independence," written in the wild times of the American fight for freedom, the line that "all men are created equal" shows the deep trust in the might of clear thought and the true worth of every person. In the same way, in Olaudah Equiano's "The Interesting Narrative," we see the story of a man moving from chains to freedom, led by the light of clear thought and knowing oneself. Equiano's story not only shows the cruel truths of being a slave, but also how learning and enlightenment can fight against being held down and help a person act on their …show more content…

The "Declaration of the Rights of Man," born from the thoughts of thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, says strongly that these rights are built in and can't be taken away, no matter where you're from or what you believe. Also, in Simón Bolvar's "Letter from Jamaica," we hear the clear call for setting free people under others and making governments based on equality and brotherhood. Bolvar's dream for Latin America, shaped by ideas of the Age of Reason, pictures a world where people are connected beyond race and class, bringing in a time of freedom and moving forward for

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