The Enlightenment Theory Of John Locke - 1627 Words

The Enlightenment theory philosophies of John Locke offered a future that could drastically change government, economic and social ideals. Thomas Jefferson borrowed liberally from the enlightenment theory from John Locke, specifically focusing on Locks theories of the equality of men, natural rights, and that people should have a say on how the government treated people. Jefferson created a draft document created a bold experiment, America. The enlightenment philosophy of John Locke theorized that that men were inherently equal, and Jefferson sought to prove this point. In the seventeenth century, Locke proposed a number of theories that would prove a force for change in how government treats their citizens. Locke’s theories of equality and natural rights of men propelled, enlightenment century revolutionaries to propose putting Locke’s enlightenment theories into practice. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Draft of the Declaration of Independence provided an active applicatio n of enlightenment theory. The Grand Experiment was about to begin. John Locke theorized the equality of men, rights of happiness, and the people have a say on how the government should run. The Second Treatise on Civil Government (1689) â€Å"stated that men should be created equal and no one is above each other.† (Shi and Mayer 84). John Locke stated numerous times about how much men should have equal rights and no aristocracy. John Locke states, â€Å"A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdictionShow MoreRelatedThomas Hobbes And The Enlightenment878 Words   |  4 Pagespeople who will help him govern. This is hard to imagine, but Enlightenment thinkers expressed their opinions on different questions related to this. The Enlightenment was an era from 1600 to 1800. It was a break from strictness of the Catholic Church and a period of intelligence and business growth in Europe. It grew out of the Renaissance, especially humanists. During this era, there were philosophers who were known as Enlightenment thinkers. They tho ught about two questions. First, are peopleRead MoreThe Enlightenment By Thomas Paine And John Locke1709 Words   |  7 PagesFinal Paper: The Enlightenment The eighteenth century embraced the beginning of an opinionated movement for new thinking about once unquestioned truths and actions. This movement, known as the enlightenment was more than a period of advanced ideas, as this unfamiliar way of thinking also lead to a change in the way that people began to operate within society. The ambition was lead by the attempt to break free from the past, overturning old ideas and moving forward. Enlightenment thinkers helpedRead MoreThe Inspiration of the Declaration of Independence1203 Words   |  5 PagesJefferson wrote the famous Declaration of Independence. One of the great philosophers that Thomas Jefferson followed was John Locke. John Locke was a British philosopher who was known for his liberal anti-authoritarian theory of state, his empirical theory of knowledge, his advocacy of religious toleration, and his theory of personal identity. When Locke was developing one of his theories which was to obey the state, he was able to make sense of when starting from an initial state of nature with no governmentRead MoreNewtons Influences Of Isaac Newton And John Locke And The Scientific Revolution763 Words   |  4 PagesThe Enlightenment was a period of time during the second half of the 18th century of new concepts and ideas aimed to advance European society by using rational thinking and logic. The ideas presented during this period focused on changing the way we view our world and the people who live in it. The two scholars who formed the foundations of the Enlightenment, Isaac Newton and John Locke, concentrated on two different subj ects, but they both greatly influenced our way of thinking. Another leader inRead MoreAge Of Enlightenment755 Words   |  4 Pagesrecognized as the Age of Enlightenment, encouraged the spread of philosophical thinking, science, communications, and politics. This movement gradually branched out from Northern Europe and reached places such as the United States of America and France, encouraging the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment brought about a new age of philosophical and intellectual thinkers, such as John Locke, which helped shape and influence modern government and politics. John Locke is recognized as theRead MoreThe Historical Period of Enlightenment741 Words   |  3 PagesEnlightenment The historical period which is known as the Enlightenment occurred during the latter half of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. The period was marked by a decided increase placed on the importance of scientific and philosophical investigation. Political philosophy was one of the most frequent and important branches of theorizing and discourse. One of the most famous political theoreticians was a man named John Locke. His theories would revolutionize the way thatRead MoreEssay On John Locke And Thomas Hobbes1076 Words   |  5 Pages John Locke and Thomas Hobbes John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, two English Enlightenment philosophers, were both very influential politically and philosophically despite having almost opposite beliefs. While each individually influenced later documents and events such as the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, they had an equally big impact in history. Today, everyone recognizes natural rights and the modern system of government uses social contracts every day. Thomas HobbesRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment In Frankenstein835 Words   |  4 Pagesworks of individuals during the Age of Enlightenment. Consequently, many of the ideas and theories that were expressed during the Age of Enlightenment are found throughout Shelley’s gothic novel. Furthermore, the Age of Enlightenment impacted the events depicted in Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, such as man’s state of nature, as discussed by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes is considered one of the first major figures of the Enlightenment, and his major argument presented atRead MoreJohn Locke : The Most Influential Philosophical And Political Thinker917 Words   |  4 PagesThe Key to Locke John Locke â€Å"proved to be the most influential philosophical and political thinker of the seventeenth century† (Kagen 213). He lived in a period of great political change; Locke’s upbringing came to influence his philosophies, and these ideas had much significance in regards to the Enlightenment. Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset (John Locke 9: 478). Early on came the outbreak of the English Civil War. Anglican and possessing Puritan sympathies, Locke’s fatherRead MoreWhy John Locke is the Greatest Philosopher of all Time1413 Words   |  6 PagesWhy John Locke is the Greatest Philosopher of all Time John Locke was a British philosopher and physician who lived from 29th August 1632 to 28th October 1704. He is one of the most outstanding of enlightenment thinkers, who explained many of the ideas that affect human life in today’s society. He is widely known as the father of classical liberalism, because of his emphases on liberty of persons by, restricting the authority of the government Jenkins and John (18). He is also regarded as one the