How Did Denis Diderot Contribute To The Enlightenment Period

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The European people throughout history had to face a lot of hardships such as wars, famines, diseases and religious conflicts. The continent of Europe had experience a lot of darkness in its history, but news ideas and concept will be created during the Enlightenment period. During this time period, new ideas, ways of thinking and knowledge that brought positive change to the continent. The Enlightenment period created great individuals such as Issac Newton, Denis Diderot, Thomas Jefferson and many more great thinkers. The minds during the Enlightenment period had left an impact on Europe and to the world. The Enlightenment period was created because people were asking questions and seeking knowledge for the truth. This lead to people creating …show more content…

He contributed to the idea of creating an encyclopedia and wanting change in the government. He would say “All things must be examined, debated, investigated without and without regard for any one’s feelings” () Diderot did not quickly made judgement towards something, but took the time to look at different angles of the knowledge that was being collected during that time period. One of his major contributions to the Enlightenment period was creation of the encyclopedia because it allows numerous different types of information to be put in a book. This allowed people to enhance their knowledge and gain new insight of their world. Diderot didn’t only think of ways to distribute knowledge, but he examining on new ideas of government and wanting freedom of the press. This was considering a bit radical because the idea of changing the government was hard to do during that time. The government leaders had a lot authority over the people and it was considered wrong to go against them. Yet, Diderot express that “public property that consequently can never be taken from the people” (). He mentioned “No man received from nature the right to command other. Liberty is a gift from heaven” (). It was making a political statement in a way because it was addressing the way government should treat people fairly and wanting a change in the government. He didn’t like the idea that the government had the most …show more content…

Jefferson states “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” (). The statement is radical because it was giving a new idea on how people should be living and receiving basic rights. Jefferson mention that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed” (). He mentions that how people and government should be working together. Jefferson felt that there should be a strong line of communication between the people and the government. Jefferson was addressing the social and political issues at the same time. He was addressing the way the people should be living a fair life and the government cannot suppress the people. Jefferson was mentioning the “King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations” (). The readers might like the new ideas that Jefferson was contributing because they were tried of the royal system. They felt the royal system was taking advantage of the common people. The declaration of independence was an example to many countries around the world that wanted freedom from their rulers. It was the foundation of democracy and freedom for the people. People still embrace the idea of liberty because it is part of society. People loved the idea that the common person was not suppress, but has multiple different