How did Enlightenment thinkers justify continuing slavery?(1 point)

Question

Responses

They did not count enslaved people as people.
They did not count enslaved people as people.

They considered it necessary for the economy.
They considered it necessary for the economy.

They ignored slavery and considered the enslaved people free.
They ignored slavery and considered the enslaved people free.

They said it was too widespread of an issue to solve.

Answer 1

Enlightenment thinkers often justified continuing slavery primarily by the belief that they did not count enslaved people as fully human or as individuals with rights. This dehumanization allowed some to rationalize the institution of slavery as acceptable and necessary for economic and social structures. While there were various arguments and rationalizations, the most prominent one was the perception of enslaved individuals as less than fully human.

So, the best response from the options provided is:

They did not count enslaved people as people.