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Vincent Le

Mr Wisner

1st Period T/R

21 February 2017

Social Philosophies

Over the years, the amount of freedom, and independence we as a society have, has

evolved tremendously. Throughout the late seventeenth, and eighteenth century, there was a

period of time where philosophers began to question ideals of the time, that would change the

way people think; this was known as, The Enlightenment Era. These philosophers shared the

belief of The Theory of Natural Laws, the patterns in nature can also be universally related to

human related activities, such as government, religion, economics, and social roles. John Locke,

Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft were the first to create the movement of logic,

and reason. The key ideals they all share was individual independence amongst the people.

John Locke believed that people were born equally, and should have the power the

engender their own government. In a passage he made in his book titled, Two Treatise on Civil

Government he states that all men are in a state a freedom, therefore should have the right to do

what they want, and how they want it as long it fits the law of nature. Because of the fact that we

are all the same species, and rank, we have no right to overrule one another. Another portion of

his publishment explains his thoughts of government. Locke disagrees with the authority of a

monarchy, due to the disbalance of the rulers, and the people. He feels that in a government, the

power, and decisions should be decided for, and by the people; which is the core of democracy.
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The idea that individuals should be able to choose their religion is a thought that Voltaire

helped shape through society. In a letter Voltaire wrote, he talks about an event in London called

the Royal Exchange. In this occurrence, a number of people from varying religions came

together, and traded. This is significant to his beliefs of freedom, because he shows that the

diversity of religions would be able to interact with each other tolerantly, and peacefully. He uses

this as proof to show that if the allowance of only one or two religions would be both random,

and chaotic to society.

Adam Smiths philosophy is that the government should have no interference with the

economic system. Mercantilism was a major factor for his view, as he feels that supply and

demand will take its course, and doesn't need the government hindering, and controlling every

business plan of the people. People who have interest to follow their own economic gain, make

society better as it is more effective, rather than having a system where people work with no little

to no interest at all.

Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the first women to question the disparity between men,

and women. During her time, the ideal woman was supposed to reliant on men, emotional, and

beautiful. Women were looked down upon to study subjects that lead them to make logical, and

reasonable decisions such as history, geography, language, arithmetics, etc. She states that in

order for our society to become more dignified, and honorably, both sexes must be given equal

chances. The reason as to why this was hard for the society to understand was because of the

ignorance of both males, and females. Females werent given to opportunity to make logical

decisions, therefore creating the idea of domestication, and dependence on others.

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Societys autonomy for people are still far from perfect, but have improved over the

centuries. These four philosophers ideas on individual liberty, and free still play a role in todays

community. We practice the idealism of democracy, freedom of religion, capitalism, and equality

for both genders. In a broader spectrum, the LGBT community is a prime example of what the

philosophies posed in the seventeenth through eighteenth century still being used. Hopefully in

the soon future, these views with be accomplished in greater measures.