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 * John Locke**



//By Bobby Williams//

John Locke was British Philosopher during the 18th century which is when the Enlightenment movement was taking place in Europe. During this time period the church was very powerful in telling what people what was wrong and right. If the church said that something was true the people would believe the church that it is true because the church said it was. But John Locke had a different view than the church. His ideas impacted the movement of the enlightenment greatly. He wanted people to go discover the truth than listen to the authority if the church. "He said that everyones mind is blank at birth. Through experience, people gain knowledge with the help of pleasure and pain" (Shingler). Basically he was trying to tell people that when people are born they are not classified by what their parents do. For example, if a queen has a baby and at the same time a poor person has a baby, both babies are equal because they have blank minds. But as the babies grow older and go through experience learning from the pleasures and pains they become classified from that. This greatly impacted the enlightenment because people began to realize that it makes sense in thinking that you cant be classified at birth because all minds are blank at birth. This made people to start questioning the church and their ideas that they always said were true.

"John Locke." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 05 Aug. 2009. .


 * Thomas Hobbes**



//By David Myer//

Thomas Hobbes was a philosopher, a scientist, and a writer. Among the biggest reason for his impact during the enlightenment were his views towards other so-called scientists. In the field of Physics, Hobbes often challenged the findings, and ideas of popular scientists at the time like Boyle. Hobbes was a leader in thinking during the age of enlightenment because he left out religion from any of his philosophy. In 1651 Thomas Hobbes published Leviathan. The book portrayed a legitimate government and the type of society that Hobbes, Locke, and others fought for. "Let a man, as most men do, rate themselves at the highest value they can, yet their true value is no more than it is esteemed by others" (Leviathan). The book is popular for being one of the first to bring up the social contract theory. This theory and his belief that society at the time was unjust made Hobbes one of the most critical thinkers of the enlightenment.

"The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes." Home page for Oregon State University. Web. 05 Aug. 2009. .

"Thomas Hobbes." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 05 Aug. 2009. .