The Age of Enlightenment

Definition

The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and religious authority. This period fostered new ideas about government, philosophy, and human rights, significantly influencing the development of modern political thought and institutions. Enlightenment thinkers sought to challenge established norms and promote knowledge through reason, leading to major social and political changes across Europe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Key figures of the Enlightenment include philosophers like Voltaire, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant, who challenged traditional views on authority and governance.
2. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual groundwork for revolutions in America and France, advocating for democracy and human rights against monarchical power.
3. Enlightenment thinkers promoted education as a means to empower individuals and improve society, leading to the establishment of public education systems.
4. The movement emphasized secularism, diminishing the influence of religion in public life and advocating for a separation between church and state.
5. Salons became popular venues for Enlightenment discussions, allowing intellectuals to share ideas and engage in debates about politics, philosophy, and science.

Review Questions

• How did the Age of Enlightenment influence political thought in Europe?
  • The Age of Enlightenment significantly influenced political thought by promoting ideas of individual rights, liberty, and democracy. Thinkers like John Locke argued for natural rights that should be protected by governments, which inspired revolutionary movements. The emphasis on reason led to questioning absolute monarchy and advocating for a government based on the consent of the governed, ultimately shaping modern democratic principles.
• Analyze the role of key Enlightenment philosophers in shaping concepts such as the social contract and governance.
  • Key Enlightenment philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau developed the concept of the social contract, which transformed ideas about governance. Hobbes viewed it as a means to maintain order through absolute authority, while Locke advocated for government based on consent and protection of individual rights. Rousseau furthered this by emphasizing collective sovereignty, suggesting that legitimate political authority comes from the will of the people. These ideas laid foundations for modern democratic theories.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the Age of Enlightenment on contemporary society and governance.
  • The long-term impacts of the Age of Enlightenment are profound, shaping contemporary society's values around democracy, human rights, and scientific inquiry. The movement’s focus on reason and empirical evidence contributed to advancements in various fields including politics, science, and education. As societies increasingly embraced secular governance and civil liberties, concepts such as freedom of speech and equality before the law became cornerstones of modern democracies worldwide. This legacy continues to influence global movements advocating for human rights and democratic reforms today.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge and truth, significantly influencing Enlightenment thinkers.

Social Contract: A theory developed by philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau that explains the relationship between individuals and the state, advocating for mutual obligations and rights.

Empiricism: The theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, shaping the scientific method during the Enlightenment.