Final answer:
Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by the scientific revolution and the concept of natural rights in their development of ideas of natural law and reason.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by several factors in their development of ideas of natural law and reason. One major influence was the scientific revolution, which emphasized the use of reason, observation, and experimentation to understand the natural world.
The scientific revolution provided a model for Enlightenment thinkers to apply reason and objectivity to the study of human institutions and society. Additionally, the concept of natural rights, which originated from older traditions of justice and natural law, played a significant role in shaping Enlightenment ideas of natural law and reason.
The Enlightenment thinkers envisioned political systems based on natural rights, equality under the law, and the importance of individual reason, leading to a period of profound optimism and a belief in the improvement of human society through science and reason.