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Compare and contrast the major ideas between two of the following Enlightenment thinkers. Be sure to include their relationship to politics and society.

A) John Locke
B) Voltaire
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau

1 Answer

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Final answer:

John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasized the importance of social contract theory and individual rights, while Voltaire focused on religious tolerance and the separation of church and state.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were influential Enlightenment thinkers who had major ideas relating to politics and society. One major idea shared by Locke and Rousseau was the concept of social contract theory, which proposed that the government's authority should be derived from the consent of the governed. Locke emphasized the importance of individual rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property, while Rousseau focused on the general will and the idea that individuals should subordinate their own interests to the collective will of the community.

Another major idea of Voltaire was religious tolerance. He advocated for freedom of religion and criticized religious intolerance and persecution. Voltaire also promoted the idea of separation of church and state, emphasizing the need for a secular society.

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