The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was a time of science and reason. People began believing in scientific reasoning to religion, nature, and politics. There were many countries who were also in the middle of the Enlightenment. It originated around the beginning of the 18th century. The American Enlightenment influenced things such as the American Revolution. It helped separate church and state. Many political debates were sparked by the Enlightenment. There were many new and helpful inventions. Many of the Founding Fathers had a great impact on the Enlightenment. This scientific movement affected many of the rules and laws we have today.
Thomas Hobbes
An English philosopher that was interested in being able to live in peace together. He did not believe in social/political inequality. He wanted all humans to have rights. He questioned the religious conduct in politics. He believed we should have a single chief political body that would decide social and political changes.Thinking this way, he claimed this could create a peaceful world.
John Locke
A British philosopher, medical and academic researcher. John Locke believed people had natural rights. John Locke wanted to protect people’s life, liberty, and property. He wanted to limit the power the government had over people. He is also famous for separation between church and state.
Pierre Bayle
A skeptic of religion, philosophy, and authority, He believed that reason could lead to the truth. Bayle was very important in the Enlightenment. He was famous for believing that space and numbers were infinite. Bayle believed that the human mind was just as complex as any animal mind, contrary to many other philosophers. He wrote books about philosophers that had similar beliefs. One of his book was condemned by a church.
Isaac Newton
A scientist and philosopher believed that “man could solve his own problems”. He is famous for his laws of motion and gravity discovery. He brought science and reason into his life, and it affected others. His experiments and discoveries helped the belief in human reason.
Francis Bacon
A politician, playwright, scientist, and philosopher. He questioned law, state, and Religion. He is famous for his belief in natural physiology and being in the field of scientific methodology (the Scientific Method)
Galileo
Even though Galileo wasn’t alive, his ideas were still used. He played a giant role in influencing others with his discoveries.He may have sparked the fire that began the Enlightenment. Galileo's books were read and studied. Galileo is the father of modern science.
Benjamin Franklin
A scientist, inventor, and politician. Benjamin Franklin brought to the public many common and useful inventions. He was liked and respected by the people. They listened to what he said. His inventions were then used. His books were read. In a few cases his experiments were done by others. Benjamin Franklin influenced the people to believe in science and reasoning.
Citations
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment/terms.html>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment>
<http://www.online-literature.com/periods/enlightenment.php>
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/>
<http://www.iep.utm.edu/hobmoral/>
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/francis-bacon/>
<http://www.angelfire.com/teoi143/philosophy/bayle/bayle.html>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment>
<http://www.online-literature.com/periods/enlightenment.php>
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/>
<http://www.iep.utm.edu/hobmoral/>
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/francis-bacon/>
<http://www.angelfire.com/teoi143/philosophy/bayle/bayle.html>