John Locke and his Effect on Society The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries represented a .
period in which radical changes took place in society. John Locke's theory of tabula rasa described how .
the mind was like a blank sheet of paper upon which ideas are imprinted. In short, his theory rationalized .
that all ideas are derived from experience by way of sensation and reflection. At the time, his theory had .
to potential to nullify divine right, the estate system, and any institution that denied liberal rights. Liberal .
rights include equality, extended franchises, unlimited social mobility, and equality. His theory .
contributed to many reforms in education, government, and social classes. Before industrialization, the .
theory of tabula rasa did not influence the peasants because of their lack of education, the role of the .
church within the peasant estate, and the threat of disorder within the estate system. With the advent of .
the Enlightenment countless philosophers introduced many new ideas and theories about the natural .
world. Unfortunately, around ninety-seven per cent of the peasant estate were illiterate in 1800. The high .
illiteracy rate meant that the peasant estate did not have the education necessary to understand complex .
theories proposed by John Locke, but the higher educated clergy and aristocracy did. Also, even if the .
peasant were literate they still did not have enough money to buy the books where these theories were .
published. Another part of John Locke's philosophy was that everyone was born equal and should have .
equal advantages under natural laws. Also, the peasants had no understanding of natural laws. Peasants .
were bound to their land because of labor availability and limited opportunities. The peasants produced .
food and transformed raw materials into finished goods for the clergy and nobles during this time period. .
Moreover, taxes imposed on them allowed the clergy and nobles to live lavish lifestyles and get an .
