Thinkers called philosophes were hoping to find ways to improve theirsociety. Philosophes of greatness like John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith and Mary Wollstonecraft. These philosophes all write about different parts of human society, including government, religion, the economy, and the social role of women.
John Locke lived in England during both the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. When Locke was born in England the form of government was a monarchy. Locke thought that “When the government is dissolved. The people at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative, … for the society can never … lose the native and original right it has to preserve itself, which can only be done by a settled legislative and a fair and impartial execution of the laws made by it.” (Document A) I think that he is saying that if government is gone the people will take care of their own.
Voltaire was born Francois-Marie Arouet in paris in 1694. He adopted his pen name and became a prolific writer. He was among the leading historical supporters of tolerance. Voltaire tried to explain to the French government the benefit religious tolerance on the economy, “ Take a view of the Royal Exchange in London … where the representatives of all nations meet for the benefit of mankind. There the Jew, the Mahometan, and…show more content… During the 18th century, most people believed that women should be beautiful, emotional and dependent on men. Wollstonecraft states, “ To render mankind more virtuous, and happier of course, both sexes must act from the same principle;... women must be allowed to found their virtue on knowledge, which is scarcely possible unless thy be educated by the same pursuits as men.” (Document D). Wollstonecraft spent her whole life fighting for women’s natural
