Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by the idea of natural law emerging from the belief that there are universal principles underlying human behavior that can be discerned through reason and observation. This concept challenged the authority of traditional sources of law, such as religion and monarchy, by asserting that laws should be based on reason and ethics rather than divine decree. Natural law provided a foundation for the development of ideas about individual rights, government legitimacy, and social justice during the Enlightenment.
Copyright © 2026 eLLeNow.com All Rights Reserved.