"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Which Enlightenment idea is presented in this passage?
A. Separation of power
B. Natural Rights
C. Social Contract
D. Checks and balances
B. Natural Rights
The Enlightenment idea presented in this passage is B. Natural Rights.
The Enlightenment idea presented in this passage is B. Natural Rights.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the key concepts of the passage:
1. "All men are created equal": This phrase affirms the belief in equality among all human beings.
2. "Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights": This suggests the idea that these rights are not granted by the government or any authority figure, but instead are inherent and cannot be taken away.
3. "Among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness": These are mentioned as examples of the specific rights individuals possess.
The concept of Natural Rights, also known as inherent or unalienable rights, was a fundamental principle of the Enlightenment. It held that these rights were possessed by individuals by virtue of their existence and could not be taken away by any external power. In this passage, the idea is expressed explicitly with the mention of "certain unalienable Rights" that individuals possess from their "Creator." Therefore, the correct answer is B. Natural Rights.