Final answer:
Enlightenment thinkers believed that societies would accumulate knowledge through empirical observation and experience, rather than through religious or authoritarian means. This perspective fostered the development of the scientific method and emphasized rationalism and empiricism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enlightenment thinkers proposed that societies would accumulate knowledge primarily through empirical observation. This means that rather than relying on religious dogma, divine revelation, or authoritarian rule, these thinkers emphasized the importance of observation and experience in acquiring knowledge. Figures like Francis Bacon and John Locke advocated for the use of rationalism and empiricism, suggesting that systematic observation and data analysis were essential to understand and improve the world.
This method of acquiring knowledge led to the development of the scientific method, which became a standard approach to conducting objective research during the Enlightenment period. Their approach was based on the belief that human institutions, much like the natural world, could be understood and improved upon through reason and observation. As such, Enlightenment philosophy underpinned the advancement of science and social theory, with a significant emphasis on progress, rationalism, and a separation from traditional religious constraints.