Isaac Newton through his laws of physics or “Newton’s Laws” set the stage for the Enlightenment also known as The Age of Reason, which occurred in the 17th and 18th century.If Newton was able to determine laws around planets there could be natural laws around how people behaved. These laws would be considered universal and through the Enlightenment period, the philosophers would attempt to discover them. Our society would not be what it is today if it wasn't for the ideas generated by four philosophers: John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft. They changed our society and formed the capitalist democratic world that we live in today. These four philosophers ideas changed the future outlook of individual freedom, freedom in
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Adam Smith lived during the economic system mercantilism, where countries would gain wealth through trades with other counties. We now call it commercialism. In 1776, as the American Colonies were declaring independence from England, Smith published The Wealth of Nations. He came up with the idea of freedom in economy. Smith says “ Every man is left perfectly to pursue his own interest in his own way” (Doc C). Most people worked for wealth in the support of industry. Smith’s main idea was for people to do what they want to do, and also enjoy their occupation. He is still considered the most influential philosopher in the field of economics today.
The last philosopher is Mary Wollstonecraft. She believed that everyone should be seen as equal regardless of gender. Wollstonecraft authored many journals and books,including the book
Vindication of the Rights of Woman
. In the 18th century women werediscouraged from educating themselves. Wollstonecraft expressed that women were notnaturally inferior to men but their lack of education made them so. She believed that womenshould have the same individual freedom as men; gender equality. It was 1792 whenWollstonecraft wrote “The most perfect education, in my opinion... is to enable the individual toattain such habits of virtue as will render her independent” (Doc D). Wollstonecraft wanted bothmen and women to be treated
Adam Smith lived during the economic system mercantilism, where countries would gain wealth through trades with other counties. We now call it commercialism. In 1776, as the American Colonies were declaring independence from England, Smith published The Wealth of Nations. He came up with the idea of freedom in economy. Smith says “ Every man is left perfectly to pursue his own interest in his own way” (Doc C). Most people worked for wealth in the support of industry. Smith’s main idea was for people to do what they want to do, and also enjoy their occupation. He is still considered the most influential philosopher in the field of economics today.
The last philosopher is Mary Wollstonecraft. She believed that everyone should be seen as equal regardless of gender. Wollstonecraft authored many journals and books,including the book
Vindication of the Rights of Woman
. In the 18th century women werediscouraged from educating themselves. Wollstonecraft expressed that women were notnaturally inferior to men but their lack of education made them so. She believed that womenshould have the same individual freedom as men; gender equality. It was 1792 whenWollstonecraft wrote “The most perfect education, in my opinion... is to enable the individual toattain such habits of virtue as will render her independent” (Doc D). Wollstonecraft wanted bothmen and women to be treated