Change can be created by challenging the system. 17th and 18th century thinkers were hopeful that they might discover new ways to make their society better. They believed that allowing individuals more freedom and reducing government control would make society better. The philosophes believed that individual freedom could improve society in three areas: government, religion, and the social role of women. Individual freedom was an important part of John Locke’s ideas on government. John Locke an english philosophe says in the Second Treatise on Civil Government, “a state of perfect freedom to order their possessions and to order actions… within bounds of the law of nature…”(Document A). In other words John Locke argues that people should have freedoms within limits. According to Locke, if the government fails the people, the people have the power to overthrow the government. Freedom was the main idea of Locke’s thoughts about government because, all
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According to the french philosophe, Voltaire, nations with a huge variety of religions are the best, because all the people work together (Document B). Voltaire's book, Letters Concerning the English Nation states, ”If one religion only were allowed in England, the Government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats; but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace.” (Document B). In other words he means that if there was religion that religion would have control over everything. And if there were two religions, the religions would be constantly at war. Yet if there was a huge variety of religions, there would peace and everyone would work together. There would not be a religion that dominates the nation. It can be argued that individual freedom was the main idea in Voltaire’s discussion of religion, because there would be equality and religious
According to the french philosophe, Voltaire, nations with a huge variety of religions are the best, because all the people work together (Document B). Voltaire's book, Letters Concerning the English Nation states, ”If one religion only were allowed in England, the Government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats; but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace.” (Document B). In other words he means that if there was religion that religion would have control over everything. And if there were two religions, the religions would be constantly at war. Yet if there was a huge variety of religions, there would peace and everyone would work together. There would not be a religion that dominates the nation. It can be argued that individual freedom was the main idea in Voltaire’s discussion of religion, because there would be equality and religious