The Enlightenment–Utility, Equality, Reason

The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, will have a lasting effect on intellectual disciplines from political theory and philosophy to science and social policy. The foundations of this school of thought are reason, equity, and utilitarianism. Reason–scientific inquiry and objective thought–is considered the key to discovering, understanding, and interacting with the world. The call for equity challenges the long-standing dominance of Christian religion and the traditional social hierarchy. People begin to suggest that government should have limited power and represent the interests of the citizens (this is the beginning of constitutionalism). At the basis of utilitarianism is the belief that decisions regarding society and its institutions should aim to produce the greatest good for the most people. This was a new moral standard. America is especially receptive to these radical and innovative ideas. They will not only spur the revolution but help to shape the new world.

"Newton" William Blake, 1795