How did Enlightenment thinkers apply reason to discover natural laws guiding human nature in social political and economic systems and institutions?

Enlightenment thinkers applied reason to uncover natural laws by emphasizing rationality, observation, and empirical evidence in understanding human behavior and societal structures. They believed that human nature could be studied like the natural world, leading to insights about governance, justice, and economics. Philosophers such as john Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored concepts of individual rights and social contracts, advocating for government systems that reflect rational principles. This rational analysis aimed to create more just and equitable societies by questioning traditional authority and promoting Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality.