Enlightenment Philosophy

Definition

Enlightenment philosophy refers to the intellectual movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. This movement laid the groundwork for modern political thought and ethical theories, including utilitarianism, by advocating for a rational approach to ethics and morality, challenging established norms, and promoting the idea that human beings can improve their society through reasoned deliberation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced modern concepts of democracy and human rights, emphasizing individual freedom and equality.
2. The emphasis on reason during the Enlightenment led to questioning of traditional moral values, paving the way for utilitarianism as a consequentialist ethical theory.
3. Utilitarianism emerged as a significant ethical framework during the Enlightenment, with philosophers like Jeremy Bentham advocating for the greatest happiness principle.
4. The Enlightenment era also marked a shift towards secularism in ethics, where moral questions began to be addressed through rational inquiry rather than religious doctrine.
5. Many Enlightenment philosophers believed that societies could achieve progress through education and the application of reason to social and political issues.

Review Questions

• How did Enlightenment philosophy influence the development of ethical theories such as utilitarianism?
  • Enlightenment philosophy significantly shaped ethical theories like utilitarianism by promoting reason as a tool for evaluating morality. Thinkers of this era encouraged questioning traditional beliefs and emphasized human capacity for rational thought. This led to the development of utilitarianism, where actions are judged based on their consequences for overall happiness, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of progress and improvement through reasoned discourse.
• In what ways did Enlightenment philosophers challenge traditional authority, and how did this impact moral thought?
  • Enlightenment philosophers challenged traditional authority by advocating for reason, skepticism towards established norms, and individual rights. This challenge not only questioned religious doctrines but also shifted moral thought towards secular perspectives. By promoting ideas like personal autonomy and social contracts, they opened the door for new ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism, which focused on outcomes rather than adherence to tradition.
• Evaluate the role of empirical evidence in Enlightenment philosophy and its relationship with utilitarian ethics.
  • Empirical evidence played a crucial role in Enlightenment philosophy as it emphasized observation and rational analysis over speculative reasoning. This reliance on empirical data significantly influenced utilitarian ethics, as utilitarians like Bentham argued that moral decisions should be based on measurable outcomes related to happiness or suffering. By integrating empirical methods into ethical considerations, Enlightenment thinkers established a foundation for evaluating moral actions based on their real-world consequences.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge and should be the basis for understanding the world.

Empiricism: A theory which asserts that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience and emphasizes observation and experimentation.

Social Contract: A concept in political philosophy that explores the origin of society and the legitimacy of government authority through an implicit agreement among individuals.