Historical Individuals Impact on Modern America

Historical Individuals Impact on Modern America
1. Introduction Philosophers and scientist of the past have shaped the world we live in today. Although these individuals lived centuries ago, their contribution to society is everlasting. In this paper I will discuss three historical individuals who have added to the success of our modern day world. John Locke, Charles Darwin, and Rene Descartes have had great impact on modern day science, religion, education and government.
2. John Locke Historical Significance John Locke was an English philosopher and is believed to be one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers. 17th-century Locke introduced the philosophy that humans agree to a social contract that allows the government to efficiently conduct society in harmony with natural law. He believes that without the control of the government, people would not behave in an acceptable manner and corrupt society. On contrary to the government, he felt the people should have the right to remove the government if they felt their natural rights were being threatened. Under natural law are natural rights. “Natural rights hold that because individuals are human beings capable of rational thinking and moral behavior, they are due all the rights one would have in the natural state.” Therefore Locke believed that all individuals are inherently good and created equally. This means individuals should innately be given natural rights which include: life, liberty, and property.
3. John Locke Contemporary Significance John Locke’s philosophies have had a large impact on modern day America. Locke influenced the Government during the Industrial Revolution with his original ideas. The Industrial Revolution allowed America to ratify the government. It forced the government to pass work related laws that were beneficial to the middle class and the economy. Without our modern day machinery we would have fewer jobs and a much weaker country economically. This could have prevented America from being the strong country that it is today. In addition to economic impact, Locke’s beliefs on natural rights have helped shaped the Bill of Rights. Without the Bill of Rights all Americans could be forbidden the three basic rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. John Locke has helped shape modern day America and positively impacted American society and beliefs.
4. Charles Darwin Historical Significance Charles Darwin introduced the theories of evolution and natural selection throughout the mid-19th-century. Darwin conducted experiments on evolution and natural selection and documented it through his writings “The Origin of Species” and “The Decent of Man.” Darwin proposed that natural selection was a process in which only the organisms survive who are best adapted to their environment. Later the fittest organisms pass their favorable genes to their offspring, which ultimately produces a more succeeding generation. This process promotes survival of the fittest and eliminates the less adapted organisms. As a result evolution occurs. The original organism becomes more complex in order to better fit to its environment. Darwin’s theory of evolution was very controversial because it challenged the bible during a time that Christianity was largely believed. Although he was raised a Christian, his discoveries caused him to doubt his religious faith and devote himself to science.
5. Charles Darwin Contemporary Significance The impact of Charles Darwin’s scientific theories on contemporary society is significant. Darwin’s theories on evolution and natural selection are widely believed and proven to be true today. His concepts have helped advance modern day science in the fields of biology, anthropology, paleontology, and genetics. His theories allow scientist to further explain and discover where humans came from and are still taught to students all over the world. In addition to scientific impact, Darwin’s theories have had a great impact on religion. His theories contradicted the biblical creation of man, which have caused great controversy between religion and science, a debate which is ongoing and highly personal with political repercussions.
6. Rene Descartes Historical Significance Rene Descartes holds historical significance during the Age of Enlightenment. Although Descartes received a degree in law from University of Poitiers, he became unsatisfied with the school system and decided it was a waste of time. He resolves that school is not a foundation of real learning, and educating through experience and travel is more beneficial. Descartes found satisfaction through mathematics because it offers proof. The ideas of fact lead him to a philosophy called skepticism. Through skepticism, Descartes established his four rules of method, which argue his laws on doubt. His Method of Doubt was to remove all factual knowledge and discover that whatever endured could be accurate. In addition to his Method of Doubt, Descartes greatly impacted mathematics. He discovered a system that translated many geometric equations into algebra, known as analytic geometry.
7. Rene Descartes Contemporary Significance Descartes has greatly impacted today’s educational system through mathematics. Descartes advanced math through algebra and geometry, by applying his rules. Without his advances, we would not know how to make a geometric or algebraic equation. His mathematic findings also contributed to the discovery of new theories by mathematicians like, Isaac Newton. Not only did Descartes impact education, but the way people think. Today, people need verifiable information to prove whether or not something is factual. Without Descartes doubt, our society may still accept things to be true without mathematical proof. Without factual evidence, our country could potentially be centuries behind in science and mathematics.
8. Conclusion Throughout history, in the quest for knowledge and understanding mankind has changed the world through observation, discovery, and invention. John Locke, Charles Darwin, and Rene Descartes are individual men whose ideas and discoveries have greatly influenced the modern world and how we view it. The philosopher, John Locke, tremendously influenced the writers of the United States Bill of Rights, on which the country is built. The basis of our government is John Locke’s belief in natural rights of basic equality and liberty based on man’s ability to think rationally and behave morally. The naturalist and scientist, Charles Darwin, presented theories based on his observations regarding evolution that challenged the traditional biblical views about the origin of man. Although, Darwin’s theories are widely accepted in the scientific community, his theories continue to be a source of controversy between religion and science. Finally, through his philosophy of skepticism, Rene Descartes changed the world of mathematics by finding a system that translated many geometric equations into algebra, known as analytic geometry. His discoveries were a critical foundation to future discoveries in math and science. Although these great thinkers lived centuries ago, their contributions to modern day science, religion, education, mathematics, and government have shaped the world we live in today and still influence many aspects of our society.

Works Cited
Descartes, Rene. "Discourse on Method." The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.
Darwin, Charles. "The Origin of Species." The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.
Darwin, Charles. “The Descent of Man.” The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.
Winfried, Butler, Letitia Snow, Janet Balk, Gil Cloud, and Catarina Giammona. "Module 3." History & Philosophy Western Culture Lecture. 12 Sept. 2012. Lecture.

Cited: Descartes, Rene. "Discourse on Method." The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. Darwin, Charles. "The Origin of Species." The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. Darwin, Charles. “The Descent of Man.” The Online Literature Library. Knowledge Matters Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. Winfried, Butler, Letitia Snow, Janet Balk, Gil Cloud, and Catarina Giammona. "Module 3." History & Philosophy Western Culture Lecture. 12 Sept. 2012. Lecture.