The Enlightenment
Caleb Phipps
Ideas of the enlightenment
Newtons idea was that using the scientific method and applying it to every part of life to create a better society, and make progress forward. Newton beleived that world was similar to a massive machine, and discovering how it works will lead to a conclusion on how human society is subject to these natural laws.
2:tabula rasa
Tabula rasa is John locke's idea that every human is born with an empty mind, and by experience his mind is filled with knowledge.so he beleived that If a human was born and exposed to good influences then society would change with the generation for better.
3: checks and balances:
Montesquie beleived that the best government would have split powers between an executive, a legislative, and judicial branches. His ideas, after being translated to English, were used in the US constitution.
4: Religious tolerance
Voltaire had fought against religious intolerance in Europe, stating that all men are brothers under God. He beleived that the world was a clock, created by God, it's maker, and was set to run without his interruption.
John Locke
Science in the Enlightenment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_the_Age_of_Enlightenment