How Did John Locke Influence The Enlightenment

John Locke is the most influential thinker of the Enlightenment. He was one of the first people to challenge the government. In addition, he was the first one to challenge a person who was challenging the government, Thomas Hobbes. Because of his timing and boldness, I believe that John Locke’s ideas were the most influential in the Enlightenment time period. John Locke believed that people are born with natural rights. He was referring to life, liberty, and right to property. He argued that if the kings violated the rights of the people, then the kings could be overthrown. These thoughts were resulting from his belief that the government power came from the people, and the king’s job was to protect the rights of the people. His beliefs were so influential that the government of the United States used his beliefs in their Constitution and their Bill of Rights. The United States government gives the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness this comes from the ideas of John Locke. He wrote several works that were popular in his time as well. Locke also had an impact on the medicine of his day. He argued that people are not born with ideas like the government and religion suggested. Locke believed that people’s ideas are formed

Thomas Hobbes believed that humans are naturally selfish and cruel. In addition, he believed in Absolute Monarchy and the fact that only the kings with absolute power could maintain order in a society. John Locke had complete opposite beliefs than Hobbes. This was influential because if wouldn’t have stood up for his beliefs, who knows if anyone would. This would result in no change in the government or beliefs of people occuring. Which ultimately is the definition of the Enlightenment period; therefore, if you want to get technical, without John Locke’s disagreement with Hobbes’ ideas there would be no Enlightenment