The Enlightenment Research Paper
ENLIGHTENMENT ERA
The Age of Enlightenment (or simply the Enlightenment) is the era in Western philosophy and intellectual, scientific, and cultural life, centered upon the 18th century, in which reason was advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority.
Developing simultaneously in France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the American colonies, and Portugal, the movement was buoyed by Atlantic Revolutions, especially the success of the American Revolution, in breaking free of the British Empire. Most of Europe was caught up, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, and Scandinavia, along with Latin America in instigating the Haitian Revolution. The authors of the American Declaration of Independence, …show more content…
The Enlightenment was less a set of ideas than it was a set of values. At its core was a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science. Thus, there was still a considerable degree of similarity between competing philosophies.[2] Some historians also include the late 17th century, which is typically known as the Age of Reason or Age of Rationalism, as part of the Enlightenment; however, most historians consider the Age of Reason to be a prelude to the ideas of the Enlightenment.[3] Modernity, by contrast, is used to refer to the period after The Enlightenment; albeit generally emphasizing social conditions rather than specific …show more content…
The Enlightenment popularizes the ideas developed during the Age of Reason. The Enlightenment is basically the view or belief that modern science and our understanding of the social world derived from modern science can help us to improve the living conditions on this planet. War, poverty, and injustice are not God-given punishments for our sinfulness but bad management. Oppressive governments can be reformed or overthrown. Social inequality can be alleviated and, maybe, overcome. Disease is not to be accepted stoically but to be fought with new medicines. Poverty can be reduced through the productivity of new inventions and technologies. Ignorance can be overcome through universal public education. Human societies are perfectible if only we have the will and use our scientific knowledge to plan and socially engineer for a better future. There is no limit to what human reason and ingenuity can
The Age of Enlightenment (or simply the Enlightenment) is the era in Western philosophy and intellectual, scientific, and cultural life, centered upon the 18th century, in which reason was advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority.
Developing simultaneously in France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the American colonies, and Portugal, the movement was buoyed by Atlantic Revolutions, especially the success of the American Revolution, in breaking free of the British Empire. Most of Europe was caught up, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, and Scandinavia, along with Latin America in instigating the Haitian Revolution. The authors of the American Declaration of Independence, …show more content…
The Enlightenment was less a set of ideas than it was a set of values. At its core was a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science. Thus, there was still a considerable degree of similarity between competing philosophies.[2] Some historians also include the late 17th century, which is typically known as the Age of Reason or Age of Rationalism, as part of the Enlightenment; however, most historians consider the Age of Reason to be a prelude to the ideas of the Enlightenment.[3] Modernity, by contrast, is used to refer to the period after The Enlightenment; albeit generally emphasizing social conditions rather than specific …show more content…
The Enlightenment popularizes the ideas developed during the Age of Reason. The Enlightenment is basically the view or belief that modern science and our understanding of the social world derived from modern science can help us to improve the living conditions on this planet. War, poverty, and injustice are not God-given punishments for our sinfulness but bad management. Oppressive governments can be reformed or overthrown. Social inequality can be alleviated and, maybe, overcome. Disease is not to be accepted stoically but to be fought with new medicines. Poverty can be reduced through the productivity of new inventions and technologies. Ignorance can be overcome through universal public education. Human societies are perfectible if only we have the will and use our scientific knowledge to plan and socially engineer for a better future. There is no limit to what human reason and ingenuity can