The Enlightenment Dbq

From around 1650 to the late 1700’s, the Age of Enlightenment dominated philosophical thought in Europe and led to revolutionary change in the structure of government and way of thought. The intellectual and cultural movement provided a new way of thought that was based on reason, progress and the scientific method. Certain thinkers and writers believed they were more enlightened than others and strived to create a more successful idea of how society should be run. They believed that human reason could be used to fight ignorance, tired rituals, corrupt traditions and tyranny. They valued reason, progress, and liberty. John Locke (1632-1704), an English philosopher, was one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment and has left