A scientist was hit upon the head with an apple and had a stroke of genius; he proved that the force that pulls objects to earth is the same as the force that holds the planets in orbit. This scientist's name was Isaac Newton (background essay). During the late 17th and 18th century in Europe, well-educated thinkers met in English drawing rooms and French salons to discuss political, economic, religious, and social questions; these people are called philosophers. Philosophers are particularly hopeful that they might discover new ways to understand and improve their society; many of which strived to achieve the title of the Isaac Newton of the social sciences. John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft all believed that there …show more content…
John Locke believed that men were naturally born in a state of perfect freedom. Locke believed that all men are naturally equal and have the capabilities to govern themselves based off what the people deem fit. John states in his second treatise on civil government in 1690 “... (W)e must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature…” (Document A). John Locke is evoking the idea that there are laws of nature which give every human equality and their own rights to govern themselves. John Locke also believed that people are at liberty to create a new government when time comes for the dissolution of a failed government. In a Treatise on Civil Government written in 1690, Locke states “... (W)hen the government is dissolved, the people are 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). This supports the earlier claim that John Locke believes people can govern themselves if given the freedom they are not born …show more content…
Mary believes that women were inferior of the two sexes because of their ignorance of their lack of Education and important knowledge which led them to have a lack of ambition and opportunity compared to men. She believed that women could prevail from this disadvantage that Society has put upon them by giving women equal education, rights, and treatment that men had. In Mary Wollstonecraft's career, she wrote multiple novels, a travel Journal, a children's book, the history of the French Revolution, and a Vindication of the rights of women. In the Vindication of the rights of woman, Wollstonecraft states “In short,... Reason and experience convince me that the only method of leading women to fail their peculiar duties is to free them from all restraint by allowing them to participate in the inherent rights of mankind. Make them free, and they will quickly become wise and virtuous....” (Document D); this passage supports the earlier made claim By saying that women should be allowed to participate in the inherent rights of mankind. Mary wrote this vindication during the third year of the French