Question

What did philosophes do about censorship?

A. They advocated for freedom of speech and expression
B. They opposed censorship and promoted open dialogue
C. They critiqued and challenged censorship in their writings
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Philosophes of the Enlightenment challenged censorship, A) advocated for freedom of speech, and promoted open dialogue. Their ideas significantly influenced the democratic principles underlying modern societies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Philosophes challenged the traditional doctrines of the mid-18th century through prolific writings and advocacy. They believed in forging a society rooted in reason and natural law rather than in faith and outdated Catholic doctrine.

The philosophes, including notable figures such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu, actively critiqued and challenged censorship.

Advocated for freedom of speech and expression, and promoted open dialogue as part of the broader philosophic and scientific movement known as the Enlightenment.

These thinkers played an instrumental role in shaping public debate within universities and the broader public sphere. The outcome was a significant undermining of the Old Regime and setting the stage for the French Revolution.

Their ideas endorsed a separation of powers, the heart of democratic governance, which influenced the foundation of the United States government and became a hallmark of modern democracies.