The Enlightenment Research Paper

First of all we need to know what the Enlightenment is. The Enlightenment is the period in the history of western thought and culture. Which stretch roughly from the mid decades of the seventeenth century through the eighteenth century. In which European politics, philosophy, science and communications were radically trying to change the course of the long eighteenth century. Which was part of a movement referred as the Age of Reason or simply the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, France and throughout Europe questioned the authority and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change. For example, the Enlightenment produced numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars …show more content…
But, one place where liberty shows up is in the economics theories. During this period we are going to see the rise of liberal economics. In America we call this conservative economics. The fundamental idea of liberal economic is people have right to their property, what your ear, and what you make. Also, you have the right to spend your money however you want to. So basically it is economics freedom. In the book of wealth and nation it argues that government intervention in the economy distorts the economy and hinders economic growth. In England the big emphasis where this thing called Mercantilism which is basically the wealth of a nation is determine by a balance of trade. As long as you have a positive balance of trade you are exporting then you are importing. So the government will set up a system to be protected by putting tariff on imported good to make them more expensive and domestic godd will be cheaper than foreign good. Therefore, you won't be importing as much and do your best to push export markets. However, economics liberal they say tariff hurt the economy because they distort what going on economically. They actually hider the accumulation of wealth in the country. For example, if you allow prices to seek its own level the iron law of demand begins. As the supply of something goes up the demand for it does not increase and the price goes down. As the demand for something risse the supply doesn't go …show more content…
John Locke argue that government exist in a contract between the people and the government to in force people unalienable rights. Three of these rights were life, liberty, and property in which the government can not take away. The reason why Lock said that the government can not take away these right is because they predate the creation of government. So government does not have authority over them there are infact god given. The government just exist to protect these rights. However, if the government breaks the contract the people have the right to rebel and respond with a new government. He also argue about the theory of psychology. Locke state, that we are born with a blank slate which means we come into the world with no structure in our mind. However, as we start to experience then we start to organize and learn about things. However, our mind is pre programed with a certain number of structures and we are not born with a blank