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Enlightenment's philosophers were Deists; what does it mean?

a) They believed in the separation of powers in government.
b) They believed in the divine right of kings.
c) They believed in the direct rule of God in human affairs.
d) They believed in absolute monarchy.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Enlightenment philosophers were Deists, meaning they believed in a distant, non-intervening creator god, contrasting with the idea of an active deity or the divine right of kings.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enlightenment philosophers were often associated with Deism, which posits the existence of a supreme being who created the universe but does not intervene in its workings post-creation. Deists picture God as a watchmaker who, after creating the watch and winding it up, allows it to run on its own. This stood in contrast to traditional religious views that featured a deity intimately involved in human affairs. As such, answer choice 'c' is incorrect because Deists did not believe in direct divine intervention, option 'd' is incorrect as it relates to monarchy rather than religious belief, and option 'b' is also incorrect because Deists rejected the idea of the divine right of kings. Humanities were reshaped during the Enlightenment, where instead of divine providence, reason and scientific methods were driving forces—a major shift from prior eras dominated by the church and absolutist monarchies.

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