Dbq Essay On The Enlightenment

Enlightenment The time of intellectual change and societal improvement. The late 17th century and 18th century was a time of enlightenment in Europe caused by philosophers. During the age of reason what were the great thinkers ideas? The philosophes, great thinkers of their time, were the people who bought this enlightenment, a time of change due to new ways of thinking. Just some of the philosophes were John Locke with his ideas about government, Voltaire with his ideas of religion, Adam Smith with his ideas of individuality, and Mary Wollstonecraft with her ideas of women. These individuals were looking to push individual freedom for the better of society.

John Locke studied government and came up with ideas on how it should lead to the

Voltaire explained how many religions affect the society. “Where the representatives of all nations meet for the benefit of mankind. There the Jew, the Mahometan (Muslim), and the Christian transact together as tho’ they all professed the same religion…. There the Presbyterian confides in the Anabaptist (Baptist), and the churchman (Anglican) depends on the Quaker’s word….” (Doc B). Voltaire believed that a working society includes all religions. Having many religions kept the society at peace and happy. “If one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats; but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace” (Doc B). He also thought that with many religions, it kept the government from becoming too controlling. Voltaire wanted to advance society with religious

Smith believed that the government should not interfere with the people’s rights. “Every man… is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way…. The [ruler] is completely discharged from a duty [for which] no human wisdom or knowledge could ever be sufficient” (Doc C). Smith’s statement is showing that he wants people to be happy by having their own interests. He believes that if people get to choose what they do, they will pick something they like to make money. “Every individual necessarily [contributes to] the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He … neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it… (H)e intends only his own gain, and he is in this … led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention” (Doc C). Smith is again stating that people should choose what they want because they will unknowingly contribute more to the annual revenue if they are enjoying their work. Smith fought for people to pursue their own