The Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. This period encouraged the exploration of new ideas about society, politics, and human rights, leading to significant cultural shifts. The Enlightenment influenced literature and the arts, prompting thinkers like Denis Diderot to challenge established norms and advocate for a new form of drama that reflected the realities of everyday life.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Enlightenment promoted the idea that human beings could improve their lives through reason and scientific inquiry, leading to advancements in various fields.
2. Denis Diderot played a pivotal role in the Enlightenment as a philosopher and writer, contributing to the development of the drame bourgeois, a new form of theatre that focused on middle-class life and moral themes.
3. The movement challenged traditional authorities such as monarchy and the church, advocating for freedom of thought and expression.
4. The Enlightenment's emphasis on individual rights laid the groundwork for later democratic movements and revolutions across Europe and America.
5. Literary works from this period often included satire and critique of societal norms, using humor to address serious issues faced by society.

Review Questions

• How did the Enlightenment influence Denis Diderot's ideas about theatre and the creation of drame bourgeois?
  • The Enlightenment influenced Denis Diderot's ideas about theatre by encouraging him to focus on reason and moral reflection in his works. The drame bourgeois emerged as a response to traditional forms of drama, highlighting the experiences of ordinary people instead of nobility. Diderot believed that theatre could serve as a means for social critique, allowing audiences to reflect on their own lives and moral choices in a rapidly changing society.
• Discuss how the values of the Enlightenment challenged traditional societal structures during Diderot's time.
  • The values of the Enlightenment challenged traditional societal structures by promoting reason, skepticism toward authority, and individual rights. This shift led to questioning of monarchies and established religious institutions, as thinkers like Diderot argued for a more egalitarian society where moral behavior could be depicted in theatre. The emergence of drame bourgeois directly reflected this challenge by prioritizing middle-class experiences over aristocratic tales, fostering greater representation within the arts.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of Enlightenment ideals on modern theatre, using Diderot's contributions as an example.
  • The lasting impact of Enlightenment ideals on modern theatre is evident in how contemporary works often prioritize realism, character development, and moral inquiry—elements championed by Diderot. His contributions to drame bourgeois laid the foundation for exploring complex human emotions and social issues within theatrical narratives. By emphasizing relatable characters and everyday situations, modern theatre continues to reflect Enlightenment principles that advocate for personal agency and critical reflection on societal norms.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, contrasting with reliance on tradition or religious belief.

Social Contract: A theory in political philosophy that addresses the origin of society and the legitimacy of authority, often associated with thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Salons: Informal gatherings hosted by prominent individuals in which intellectuals, artists, and writers discussed ideas and exchanged thoughts on various topics during the Enlightenment.