Similarities Between John Locke And Adam Smith

The late 17th and 18th century was an important period of time known as the Enlightenment or Age of Reason. From 1690 to 1792 four philosophers wrote their opinions on how to achieve the perfect society and the concept of understanding people to better it. John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft all shared the same notion that every person should conceive and execute their own individual choice in Government, Religion, Economics, and Social Rights. The choice of the people was a critical component in creating a lasting and controllable Government according to John Locke. In his book Second Treatise on Civil Government he writes, “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.” Locke infers that with a branch of government in which people have the right to vote for their preferences, that the laws made will never lose societies consent resulting in a stable government. Locke makes it transparent that this kind of thriving government can only be reached through a fair and equal legislature.
One of his books, Letters Concerning the English Nation, includes, “If one religion were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats, but as there are such a multitude, they all live in happy peace.” The main idea of his words states the opinion that if the individual had the right to choose any religion they please, society would operate in a more peaceful manner. With that Voltaire adds that man must be accepting and nonjudgmental towards the belief of others in order for the peace to be