🤔intro to philosophy review

key term - Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century. It emphasized the use of reason, individualism, and the scientific method to challenge traditional modes of authority and knowledge.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The Enlightenment promoted the idea of progress, the belief that human societies and knowledge could continuously improve through the application of reason and scientific inquiry.
  2. Key Enlightenment thinkers, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Kant, challenged the authority of traditional institutions like the Catholic Church and absolute monarchies.
  3. The Enlightenment emphasized individual rights, including the rights to life, liberty, and property, which influenced the American and French Revolutions.
  4. Enlightenment social theory focused on understanding the natural laws governing human society and the potential for social progress through the use of reason.
  5. The Enlightenment had a lasting impact on Western thought, contributing to the development of modern democracy, human rights, and the scientific method.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and individualism challenged traditional modes of authority and knowledge.
    • The Enlightenment promoted the idea that individuals should use reason and scientific inquiry to challenge traditional sources of authority, such as the Catholic Church and absolute monarchies. This challenged the notion that knowledge and social order should be dictated by religious or political institutions, and instead emphasized the importance of individual rights and the potential for human progress through the application of reason. This shift in perspective had a significant impact on the development of modern democratic ideals and the scientific method.
  • Describe the relationship between the Enlightenment and the development of Enlightenment social theory.
    • Enlightenment social theory emerged from the broader intellectual and philosophical movement of the Enlightenment. Thinkers during this period sought to understand the natural laws governing human society and the potential for social progress through the use of reason. This led to the development of theories that emphasized individual rights, the separation of church and state, and the belief that societies could be improved through the application of scientific principles. The Enlightenment's focus on rationality and empiricism directly influenced the emergence of social theories that aimed to explain and transform the structure of human societies.
  • Analyze the lasting impact of the Enlightenment on Western thought and society.
    • The Enlightenment had a profound and lasting impact on Western thought and society. Its emphasis on reason, individualism, and the scientific method laid the foundation for the development of modern democracy, human rights, and the scientific revolution. The Enlightenment's challenge to traditional sources of authority, such as the Catholic Church and absolute monarchies, contributed to the rise of secularism and the separation of church and state. Additionally, the Enlightenment's focus on the potential for human progress through the application of reason has continued to shape Western intellectual and cultural discourse, influencing fields ranging from philosophy and political theory to the natural and social sciences.