ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS: WHAT WAS THEIR MAIN IDEA?

Enlightenment Philosophers: What was Their Main Idea? Students Name University Affiliation

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS: WHAT WAS THEIR MAIN IDEA? Enlightenment Philosophers: What Was Their Main Idea? The age of enlightenment refers to a cultural movement that comprised intellectuals of

Europe in the time period ranging from the late 17th century to the 18th century. They emphasized the use of reason and focused on individualism as opposed to the tradition. They sought to change the society in a different way by using reason. They challenged the ideas previously formulated through faith and tradition by forwarding ideas obtained from scientific knowledge. The enlightenment age encouraged scientific thought, intellectual exchanges as well as skepticism over traditional concepts of reasoning. The individuals fronting these new ideas were referred to as philosophes. They were strongly opposed to intolerance and superstition. Ideally, the enlightenment represents a change in the direction from the traditional Puritan fatalism that was linked to the notion of pre-destination and that the human race has room for improvement. This paper seeks to discuss the question, on the main idea behind enlightenment philosophers. To begin with, enlightenment thinkers were of the notion that reason could raise humanity to a new level made of a wonderful world. This was a major idea propagated by enlightenment philosophers. One such thinker was Jean Franois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) whose main enemy was the Catholic Church. He viewed the church as the main source of corruption and that it was stifling mans freedom of thought that would raise the status of humans (Bailyn, 1962). Other great philosophers of the same ilk as Voltaire include Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. These philosophers implemented a major enlightenment idea among the Americans. The philosophers believed in self-governance. The enlightenment philosophers believed in the individuals natural rights, including self-governance. They refer to these rights as inherently similar to the laws of nature.

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS: WHAT WAS THEIR MAIN IDEA? John Locke was one of the most influential philosophers of the enlightenment age. He was a great supporter and believer in the equality of all men. Locke foresaw the disadvantages associated with the differences that existed among men. Therefore, all developments could be successful only if men perceived each other equally. He argued that governments existed for the sole purpose of protecting the citizens rights and freedoms (Horkheimer, 2002). By upholding

such freedoms and rights and freedoms, he argued, there would be room for critical thinking and reasoning, thereby, allowing for development and advancement to the human race. Montesquieu greatly supported the separation of powers. He supposed that the government need to be divided into separate arms to ensure checks and balances. Such a system would ensure that power does not lie in one unconsolidated section as it would easily lead to corruption and infringement on the rights of the citizens. This led to the incorporation of this system by such governments as the U.S government, Latin America as well as France in their national constitutions (Copeland, 2006). Conclusively, the enlightenment age can be viewed as the period in which there was an in an increase, in systemized and well-ordered thought. It is considered as the age in which the world transited from the base beliefs laid down by traditions and the church. It is a time that was marked by great advances in ideology, especially in governance and belief systems. Although many of the ideas presented were shot down, especially by the church, the impact of the ideas of enlightenment is still evident in the present systems.

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERS: WHAT WAS THEIR MAIN IDEA? References Bailyn, B. (1962). Political experience and enlightenment ideas in eighteenth-century America. The American Historical Review, 67(2), 339-351. Copeland, D. A. (2006). The idea of a free press: The Enlightenment and its unruly legacy: Northwestern Univ Press. Horkheimer, M. (2002). Dialectic of enlightenment: Philosophical fragments: Stanford University Press.