Imagine a world structured without the slightest iota of equality; one which people cant speak their minds for fear of being killed. This world existed until the early 18th century, until a group of independent thinkers changed the way we live, with their revolutionary ideologies and beliefs. They questioned societal norms which were previously around for centuries. The questioning of societal norms was actually extremely dangerous, and spreading heresy could actually mean death. Despite this, the philosophers continued to spread their ideas – educating the rest of society and breaking their obediant chains. The enlightenment thinkers stressed important ideas such as self-reliant thinking – one such thinker was Rene Descartes. Descartes had one great ability which made him one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived – he questioned everything to the point where one even started to doubt your own existence. His idea “I think therefore, I am” is the idea that the reason for our existence is to think. Descartes recognized that the only true difference between man and animal is mans ability to think. In a way, Descartes was able to uteach himself everything he was previously taught, by his parents, the church and so one. This made him able to reteach the world as he knew it through questions and observations. At the time, the idea of independent thinking was foreign to the world, and so Descartes’, as well as other philosophers and scientists of the enlightenment, ideas riffled through the world allowing us to live our lives with freedom and independence. Although we haven’t fully reached equality and independence, we must further ensure their ideas and beliefs fully come to fruition in order to reach full impartiality.