Final answer:
Educated Europeans were convinced of the power of human reason in the 1700s primarily due to increasing scientific discoveries during the Scientific Revolution. This laid the foundation for the Enlightenment, which stressed reason and critical thinking.
B is correct
Step-by-step explanation:
The 18th century witnessed a transformation in European intellectual life termed the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason. This era was distinctly characterized by an emphasis on human reason as the fundamental source of knowledge, authority, and legitimacy. Progress, liberty, and rationality were cherished in direct opposition to superstition and unfounded faith.
What convinced educated Europeans of the power of human reason in the 1700s was B) Increasing scientific discoveries. The Scientific Revolution, which preceded the Enlightenment, provided a framework of rational thought and empirical evidence that ignited critical examination of conventional beliefs. Philosophers such as John Locke and scientists like Isaac Newton inspired the use of reason to understand the natural world and question existing traditions and institutions.
The Enlightenment played a pivotal role in shaping modern Western civilization with its ideas ultimately impacting the governance and philosophies of societies, as seen in events like the American and French revolutions. It advocated for the engagement of reason to achieve progress, tolerance, and liberty, leading to reforms in political and social spheres.