Question

Definition of the enlightenment

Answer 1

The Enlightenment was an 18th-century philosophical movement, emphasizing reason and scientific thought over superstition. It fostered ideals like liberty and progress, and influenced revolutionary changes in society and government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century. It was characterized by an emphasis on rationalism, where reason was seen as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. Advocating for ideals such as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and the separation of church and state, the Enlightenment marked an era that encouraged scientific thinking and critical examination of existing knowledge and social structures.

Influential thinkers like John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire played a pivotal role in this movement. They utilized the power of the press to question traditional beliefs and promoted openness, investigation, and religious tolerance. As these ideas spread throughout Europe and the Americas, they challenged the authority of the monarchy and the church, setting the stage for subsequent political revolutions.

The Enlightenment is often viewed as a significant turning point in Western civilization—an age where the light of science and reason dispelled the darkness of superstition and blind faith.

Answer 2

a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent exponents include Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.