Fortunately man had reason at his disposal and long ago reasoned that it would be far better to renounce the state of nature, including his natural right to all things, in favor of establishing a peaceable, safe commonwealth where power would be held by an omnipotent sovereign. ... To Locke the state of nature was "men living together according to reason without a common superior on earth, with authority to judge between them- (Chapter 19, Two Treatises). ... In the state of nature, since all men were equal as kings, no man's property was at all private nor was it safe as every man ha...

• Word Count: 1544
• Approx Pages: 6

In all parts of the world, celebration, mourning, and hostility occurred all because of religion. ... These men advocated the abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a republic. ... (American Enlightenment [1], 2) Other political ideas reached America, such as John Locke's publications on contractual government and the divine right of kings. ... Such men as these, along with many others, precipitated the evolution of thought into the time known as the Enlightenment. ... Enlightenment men were not, however, merely concerned with self-perfection, but rather perfecting humanity as a w...

• Word Count: 2303
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate