The Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, science, and individualism over tradition. It played a crucial role in shaping modern Western thought and values, paving the way for advancements in philosophy, politics, and the arts, including a revival of interest in classical Greek aesthetics through Neoclassicism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Enlightenment encouraged thinkers to question traditional authority and emphasized the power of human reason as a means to achieve knowledge and improvement.
2. It led to significant developments in political philosophy, including ideas about democracy, liberty, and human rights that influenced revolutions around the world.
3. Neoclassicism emerged as an artistic style during the Enlightenment, drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture to promote ideals of harmony, order, and rationality.
4. Prominent figures of the Enlightenment include philosophers like Voltaire, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant, who contributed to discussions on ethics, government, and epistemology.
5. The movement ultimately laid the groundwork for modern science and secular thought, challenging the dominance of religious explanations in favor of empirical evidence and rational discourse.

Review Questions

• How did the Enlightenment influence artistic movements such as Neoclassicism?
  • The Enlightenment had a profound impact on artistic movements like Neoclassicism by encouraging artists to look back at the principles of ancient Greek and Roman art. This revival emphasized harmony, clarity, and balance—qualities associated with Enlightenment ideals of reason and order. Artists sought to embody these values in their work, leading to a resurgence of classical themes and forms that celebrated human reason and aesthetic beauty.
• Discuss how Enlightenment thinkers approached the concept of human rights and how this was reflected in art during the Neoclassical period.
  • Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke argued for natural rights such as life, liberty, and property, which laid the philosophical foundation for modern human rights discourse. This emphasis on individual rights was mirrored in Neoclassical art through themes of heroism and virtue, often depicting historical or mythological figures who exemplified these ideals. Artists used classical motifs to illustrate concepts of justice and moral integrity, highlighting the connection between enlightenment thought and artistic expression.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Enlightenment on Western culture and its relationship with Greek aesthetics through Neoclassicism.
  • The long-term effects of the Enlightenment on Western culture were transformative, fostering a shift towards reason-based thinking that permeated various aspects of society including politics, science, and art. The revival of Greek aesthetics through Neoclassicism served as a vehicle for these ideas, celebrating classical ideals while promoting contemporary values such as democracy and individual rights. This intersection not only shaped artistic expression but also reinforced the importance of reasoned discourse in cultural development, influencing future movements into modernity.

Related terms

Rationalism:

A philosophy that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge and truth, often associated with thinkers like René Descartes.

Humanism:

A Renaissance movement that focused on the value and agency of human beings, emphasizing classical learning and literature.

Empiricism: The theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, advocating for observation and experimentation in understanding the world.