The Enlightenment or the “Age of Reason” was a time of scientific, political, and philosophical discourse in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Introduction
The Enlightenment or the “Age of Reason” was a time of scientific, political, and philosophical discourse in the 17th and 18th centuries (circa 1650 – 1800)
It was centered around the idea that reason was the primary source of authority and legitimacy and advanced ideals such as liberty and freedom, progress, tolerance, constitutional government, and the separation of the church and the state.
Enlightenment thinkers believed they could help create a better world by improving people and society.
It was a period where a fundamental shift in thinking occurred and was instrumental in shaping the modern world.
Age of Enlightenment: The Age of Reason Explained | Captivating HistoryEnlightenment Ideas
The main ideas that dominated Enlightenment thinking included:
Deism – the belief in the existence of a creator who does not intervene in the universe.
Liberalism – the belief in human rights and freedom.
Republicanism – the belief that a nation should be governed as a republic with an emphasis on liberty.
Cosmopolitanism – the belief that everyone is entitled to equal respect, regardless of their citizenship.
Progressivism – the belief in the need for social reform.
Secularism – the belief that religion should not be involved with the political activities of the state.
Religious toleration – the belief that people should be free to practice any religion of their choosing
Significant People
The Age of Enlightenment was preceded by and closely associated with the Scientific Revolution. Earlier philosophers whose work influenced the Enlightenment included Francis Bacon and René Descartes. Some of the major figures of the Enlightenment included Cesare Beccaria, Denis Diderot, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, John Locke, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Adam Smith, Hugo Grotius, Baruch Spinoza, and Voltaire.
Credit: Wikipedia
London Coffeehouses and Paris Salons
The London coffeehouses and the Parisian salons were places for social discourse and centers of Enlightenment thinking.
Resources
- History.com: Enlightenment
- Britannica: Enlightenment
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Enlightenment
- Wikipedia: Enlightenment
Posts that link to this post
- A Brief History of Knowledge 200,000 years of history
- The London Coffeehouses of the Enlightenment Centers of Enlightenment thinking
- British Gentlemen’s Clubs ** Of the 17th and 18th Centuries
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