The Enlightenment philosophers were profoundly influenced by earlier thinkers, particularly those of the Age of Reason, such as René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant. Locke's ideas about natural rights and government by consent were particularly pivotal, inspiring later Enlightenment ideals about individual liberty and equality. The scientific advancements of the Renaissance, including those by Galileo and Newton, also shaped the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and empirical evidence. Furthermore, classical Greek and Roman philosophy, especially the works of Socrates and Aristotle, provided a foundation for Enlightenment thoughts on ethics, governance, and human nature, fostering a spirit of inquiry that challenged traditional authority.