The Enlightenment Era, also known as the Age of Reason, which occurred during the 17th and 18th century, was a period of much intellectual and social growth. The Enlightenment period was the time of new bright ideas and the start of a feminist society. Few people started to believe that women were capable of being independent and getting proper education. The four Enlightenment Philosophers were John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft. They contributed to the improvement of individual, religious, political, and women’s rights during the Enlightenment period. One of the great philosophers of the Enlightenment Era was Adam Smith who wrote the great book The Wealth of Nations. Adams ideas on economy was that the economy was a self-correcting mechanism, which did not need to be regulated by the government. Adam said ¨humans work better when they are striving for personal profits than when they are aiming for the public.¨ Adam Smith does not support an economical system based on government control or individual decision-making. He states “the ruler is completely discharged from a duty.” …show more content…
John Locke who conceptualized rights as natural and inalienable. Locke believed in the natural right to life, liberty, and property. Locke states “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” According to Locke the people have the rights to create a new government only if the old one