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What group of thinkers argued that God existed but that he didn't influence everyday life after having set the machine of the universe in motion

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Final answer:

Deists during the Enlightenment believed in a God that did not intervene in the universe after its creation, akin to a watchmaker who lets the watch run on its own.

Step-by-step explanation:

The group of thinkers who argued that God existed but did not influence everyday life after having set the universe in motion is known as Deists. During the Enlightenment, these thinkers viewed God similarly to a watchmaker who, once having made a watch, leaves it to operate on its own. This viewpoint contrasts with traditional religious beliefs where God is involved in the day-to-day activities of the world. Deism, therefore, presents a God who established the laws of nature but does not intervene in human affairs. This concept emerged alongside the Enlightenment and was partly influenced by the scientific discoveries of figures such as Isaac Newton, whose mechanics described a self-regulating universe.

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