During the Enlightenment period, ideologies such as rationalism, empirical evidence, individual rights, and skepticism of authority dominated European thought. Philosophers like John Locke emphasized the importance of natural rights and the social contract, while others, like Voltaire and Rousseau, critiqued established institutions, particularly the Church and monarchy. Empiricism, championed by thinkers like Francis Bacon, prioritized observation and experimentation as the basis for knowledge. These ideologies collectively fostered intellectual freedom, shaped modern democracy, and laid the groundwork for revolutions and reforms in society, government, and science, influencing contemporary Western thought significantly.