Age of enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment (pronunciation: /eɪdʒ ɒv ɪnˈlaɪtnmənt/), also known as the Enlightenment Era or simply the Enlightenment, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Etymology
The term "Enlightenment" comes from the Latin word "illuminatio", which means "illumination" or "enlightenment". It was first used in this context by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant in his essay "What is Enlightenment?".
Related Terms
- Philosophy: The study of fundamental questions about existence, reality, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and ethics.
- Reason: The capacity of consciously making sense of things, applying logic, and adapting or justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing information.
- Science: A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
- Humanism: A philosophical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively.
- Secularism: The principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on secular, naturalistic considerations.
Overview
The Age of Enlightenment was characterized by an emphasis on the scientific method and reductionism along with increased questioning of religious orthodoxy—an attitude captured by the phrase Sapere aude, "Dare to know".
Enlightenment thinkers sought to curtail the political power of organized religion, and thereby prevent another age of intolerant religious war. Some of the most notable Enlightenment thinkers were John Locke, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Adam Smith.
Impact
The Enlightenment has had a profound impact on the cultural, political, and economic life of the world. It brought political modernization to the west, in terms of introducing democratic values and institutions and the creation of modern, liberal democracies.
The ideas of the Enlightenment also played a major role in inspiring the French Revolution, which began in 1789. After the Revolution, the Enlightenment was followed by the intellectual movement known as Romanticism.
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