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The Four Thinkers In The 17th And 18th Century

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The Four Thinkers The late 17th and 18th centuries were one of the most unequal and harsh centuries. Many new inventions, thoughts, and social agreements and disagreements arose. Philosophers (Thinkers) discovered ideas on how to improve society and natural laws (truths that people don 't always recognize). Throughout these centuries there were 4 known philosophers who shared their thoughts on government, religion, economics, and the social rights on women. In the 16th and 17th centuries a philosopher known as John Locke had thoughts on the State of Nature and the government. John Locke stated, “We must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom too under their actions… within the bounds of law and …show more content…

During the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, the most common economic system was called mercantilism. This system was used to make the country rich. A philosopher knows as Adam Smith had many thoughts and arguments on this economic system. Smith states, “Every man… is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way…” Smith believes that every man has the right to do as he wishes as he wants to do it. Smith also states , “By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more [effectively] than when he really intends to promote it.” According to Smith people unknowingly contribute to themselves and society. Their is a cycle that includes jobs, workers, and their contribution to society.
During the 18th century most of society believed that women had to be dependant on men. This lead to the thought that women weren 't as smart as men. Women also weren 't able to learn about reasoning and arguments. A women philosopher known as Mary Wollstonecraft made many changes on the views of women. Mary states, “ Women must be allowed to find their virtue on knowledge, which is scarcely possible unless they be educated by the same pursuits [studies] as men. Mary believes women and men should both have the rights to learn about reasoning and arguments because women are just as smart and creative as

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Although, their views on the type of government and the natural rights of its citizens greatly differed, especially regarding the state of nature. The state of nature is an idea used in political philosophy that was used by Enlightenment philosophers. It’s a representation of human nature without society. Locke believed that “Men living according to reason, without a common superior on earth, to judge between them, is properly the state of nature.”

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In the time of the Enlightenment Period many changes were happening in society. In the late 17th and 18th century people called The Philosophers, met in French salons and English drawing rooms to discuss what they believed in. They made many great things happen and strived their best to make what they believed in something possible. The Enlightenment Philosophers imagined they could change the ways of society in many ways. They concluded that they could improve the laws, rights of women, religious rights, and also economic rights.

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During the 18th Century, the Enlightenment was introduced in Europe. This new movement brought about modernization of thinking about government and individualism, and reevaluated previous beliefs. The Enlightenment had many new Philosophers who helped spread their views on government. Philosophers were similar in ideas about the rights of citizens and people’s choice of which government they want, however they differed on the reason government existed and governmental power. Overall, the ideas were a substantial departure from previous ideas about human equality, absolute rulers, and the court system.

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In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke revealed his interests in new science, developing theories of education and knowledge (SMW, 34). One of the main points in his Treatise is that of the law of nature, where all men are in natural state of perfect freedom (SMW, 34). Locke argues, “Men being…by nature all free, equal, and independent,

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Before Adam Smith’s push for this, it was common for governments to make most the decisions about what to trade and how much everything was. He wrote The Wealth of Nations to help this cause change. He also wrote that if individuals pursue their own self-interest, they would help the society (Doc C). Individual freedom is the key to a better economy as well.

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From the late 1500’s to the late 1700’s, the Enlightenment period occurred. Thinkers and philosophers across Europe created ideas that changed the way people thought. For example, John Locke thought of the idea that everyone had natural rights. These rights consisted of the right to life, liberty, and property. Voltaire had the idea that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government.

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The philosophers of the Enlightenment created today. The Enlightenment was a time full of new ideas ranging from the 1620’s to the 1780’s. The philosophers of the time, including Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Baron de Montesquieu all had grand ideas. The ideas were fueled by the opposition to the government or other issues the philosopher faced. These ideas were so revolutionary they live on in the minds of people fighting for equality and freedom today.

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In this piece of evidence, Adam Smith talks about how if someone depends on living off an upper-classman, then they are a beggar. At this time in the world, mercantilism was the main economic system for countries to be economically stable. Adam Smith talks about how capitalism is the best form for economics in a country. So, in this piece of evidence, Adam Smith says how only beggars depend on other people's resources. He shows how mercantilism is a needy form of economics and how the people who depend on the government receive meager amounts of money.

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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.

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The Age of Reason In Europe, during the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason, many philosophers gathered together to discuss their different but similar ideas to help shape the world we live in today. In the late 17th and 18th century, four enlightenment philosophers named John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft focused on the same main idea. They believed in individual rights and presented their arguments through religion, government, economics, and equality for women.

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Live and Learn In the article “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X is about Malcolm not knowing how to write properly, he was frustrated about not being able to convey himself in his letters that he wrote especially to Mr. Elijah Mohammed. He didn't go past the eighth grade in school, so the only writing he knew was slang. Malcolm was in prison so he began to teach himself by requesting a dictionary along with some paper and pencils from Norfolk Prison Colony school to learn the meaning of words but most importantly to express himself.

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25). Locke’s state of nature demonstrates a state which entails perfect freedom and the right to one’s own actions and possessions (Locke 2 sect. 4). He then

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Locke's most important and influential political writings are contained in his Two Treatises on Government. The first treatise is concerned almost exclusively with refuting the argument that political authority was derived from religious authority. The second treatise contains Locke’s own constructive view of the aims and justification for civil government. According to Locke, the State of Nature, the natural condition of mankind, is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one's life as one best sees fit, free from the interference of others. This does not mean, however, that it is a state of license: one is not free to do anything at all one pleases, or even anything that one judges to be in one’s interest.

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Domestic violence against Women by intimate partners in Thailand In Thailand married women at the age of 15-49 years old have experienced physical or psychological violence from their intimate partner every day, 2-3 times a week (ICDD, 2012).When the "domestic violence" happened, women can be victims more than men. Domestic violence is a social critical issue and should not happen to anybody, but it is difficult to prevent. The problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. Domestic violence against women by intimate partners is a pattern of threatening or controlling behavior imposed on women by intimating partner without regarding for her rights, feeling, body, or health (Moreno, 2001).

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Only those who are born with true philosophical understanding can rule. In the Second Treatise by John Locke, Locke addresses the state of nature, which is essentially equality and freedom. Even though people have liberty, they still need to obey natural laws. On the contrary of Plato’s just city, Locke believes that absolute authority is not a civil government. A civil society is where the majority rules.

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