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Describe the difference between "Authority" pre-enlightenment and "Reason" post-enlightenment

User Paperhorse
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Final answer:

Pre-enlightenment authority was based on tradition and divine right, while post-enlightenment thinking emphasized reason and individual rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between "Authority" pre-enlightenment and "Reason" post-enlightenment is that pre-enlightenment, authority was seen as the primary source of legitimacy and power. This meant that rulers, such as kings, derived their power from a divine source, such as God, and were often unquestioned. On the other hand, post-enlightenment thinking emphasized reason as the main source of authority, challenging the idea of divine right and advocating for individual reasoning and critical thinking as the basis for decision-making.

For example, during the pre-enlightenment era, kings were believed to have been chosen by God, and their rule was not to be questioned. This meant that their authority was based on tradition and inherited power. However, during the enlightenment, thinkers like John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire argued that power should be derived from the consent of the governed and that reason should be used to understand the world and make decisions. This led to the development of ideas such as constitutional government and individual rights.

User Karle
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