Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, science, and individualism over tradition and religious authority. This period was marked by a surge in philosophical thought that sought to challenge established norms and promote ideas about democracy, human rights, and rational governance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Enlightenment produced key texts like John Locke's 'Two Treatises of Government' and Voltaire's 'Candide', which questioned traditional authority and promoted ideas of liberty and justice.
2. Philosophers of the Enlightenment advocated for the separation of church and state, promoting secular governance based on reason rather than religious doctrine.
3. The movement inspired significant political revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, by advocating for individual rights and democratic principles.
4. Key figures of the Enlightenment include Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Kant, who each contributed unique ideas about society, politics, and human nature.
5. The Enlightenment laid the groundwork for modern science and ethics by promoting critical thinking, skepticism of tradition, and the belief in progress through knowledge.

Review Questions

• How did the ideas promoted during the Enlightenment challenge traditional authority in society?
  • Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason and scientific inquiry over tradition and religious authority, leading to a fundamental questioning of established norms. This intellectual movement encouraged individuals to think critically about their beliefs and the systems governing them. By promoting ideas such as democracy, human rights, and secular governance, Enlightenment philosophers like Locke and Rousseau inspired individuals to challenge oppressive regimes and advocate for greater personal freedoms.
• Evaluate the impact of Enlightenment philosophy on political revolutions in the late 18th century.
  • The Enlightenment played a crucial role in shaping the ideological foundations of political revolutions such as the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799). The principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals. Thinkers like Jefferson drew upon Enlightenment concepts of individual rights and government by consent to justify independence from British rule. Similarly, French revolutionaries applied these ideas to overthrow monarchy in favor of a republic based on equal rights.
• Synthesize how Enlightenment ideas have influenced modern democratic systems around the world.
  • Enlightenment ideas have profoundly shaped modern democratic systems by instilling values of individual rights, separation of powers, and government accountability. The philosophies articulated during this era laid the groundwork for constitutional frameworks that emphasize civil liberties and participatory governance. In contemporary democracies globally, these principles continue to resonate as societies strive to uphold justice, promote equality under the law, and protect freedoms against tyranny. The ongoing discourse about human rights can also be traced back to Enlightenment ideals advocating for universal dignity and respect.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge and that reality can be understood through logical deduction and scientific inquiry.

Social Contract: A theory in political philosophy that posits individuals consent to form societies and governments for mutual benefit, often associated with thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Empiricism: The theory that knowledge is derived from sensory experience and evidence gathered through observation and experimentation, contrasting with rationalism.