The Newtonian World Picture and the New Philosophy of Man

To understand the real spirit of the enlightenment, we must go beyond a Newtonian world picture in the Newtonian method. We must identify and appreciate the new philosophy of man which emerged at the same time. To have a Newtonian universe inhibited by a creature of original sin would be to have a nightmare world. What was needed was a revival and renovation of the Aristotelian view of man as the rational animals seeking his own fulfillment and happiness. John Locke's work came to fruition in a fairly complete system with philosophy whose major components came off the press together in 1690.