Age of Enlightenment

Definition

The Age of Enlightenment, spanning the late 17th to the 18th century, was an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasized reason, science, and individualism over tradition and religious authority. It laid the groundwork for modern democracy, scientific inquiry, and philosophical thought, fundamentally shifting societal structures and attitudes in Europe. This era followed the Renaissance, building on its humanist ideals, while also paving the way for significant scientific advancements that redefined humanity's understanding of the natural world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Key figures of the Enlightenment included philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who promoted ideas about liberty, democracy, and individual rights.
2. The movement encouraged a shift from religious explanations of the world to scientific reasoning and empirical evidence, leading to major advancements in various scientific fields.
3. The Enlightenment influenced revolutionary movements around the world, including the American and French Revolutions, which sought to implement Enlightenment principles in governance.
4. Literature and art during the Enlightenment reflected themes of reason and human progress, often critiquing traditional institutions such as monarchy and the church.
5. The era saw the rise of salons—gatherings where intellectuals shared ideas—which helped spread Enlightenment thought beyond academic circles into everyday life.

Review Questions

• How did the Age of Enlightenment build upon the ideas established during the Renaissance?
  • The Age of Enlightenment expanded on Renaissance ideas by emphasizing reason and individualism as central tenets for societal progress. While the Renaissance revived classical knowledge and humanist thought focused on human potential, the Enlightenment took it further by advocating for scientific inquiry and rational thought as means to improve society. This shift from tradition towards empirical evidence not only influenced intellectual discourse but also affected political structures by promoting ideas of liberty and governance based on consent.
• Discuss how major scientific discoveries during the Enlightenment changed people's understanding of the natural world.
  • Major scientific discoveries during the Enlightenment, such as Isaac Newton's laws of motion and gravity, shifted people's understanding from a predominantly religious view of nature to one grounded in scientific reasoning. The emphasis on experimentation and observation led to significant advancements in fields like physics, biology, and chemistry. This transformation fostered a culture that valued knowledge derived from empirical evidence rather than theological doctrine, ultimately reshaping societal norms and encouraging technological progress.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of Enlightenment thinking on modern democratic principles and governance.
  • The long-term impacts of Enlightenment thinking are profound and pervasive in contemporary democratic principles. The ideas proposed by Enlightenment philosophers regarding individual rights, equality before the law, and government accountability directly influenced the development of constitutional democracies worldwide. By promoting concepts like the social contract and separation of powers, these thinkers established frameworks that inform modern governance. The ongoing emphasis on rational discourse and empirical evidence in policy-making can also be traced back to this transformative era, highlighting its significance in shaping contemporary political ideologies.

Related terms

Rationalism:

A philosophical belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge and that certain truths can be understood through logical deduction.

Empiricism: A theory of knowledge that asserts that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, emphasizing observation and experimentation.

Social Contract: A concept in political philosophy suggesting that individuals consent to form a society and abide by its rules in exchange for protection of their rights.