Age of Enlightenment

The Enlightenment began in Western Europe, particularly in countries like England, France, and Germany. These nations saw a surge in scientific and philosophical advancements, challenging traditional beliefs and institutions. Key figures of the Enlightenment include Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke.

John Locke, an Enlightenment thinker, argued that the purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property of its citizens. Locke believed that people are born with these inherent rights, and that government exists to preserve and protect them.

The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution reflect the influence of Enlightenment ideas. These documents emphasize individual rights, the importance of reason and logic, and the concept of government by consent of the governed. Additionally, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen also demonstrates the influence of Enlightenment ideals on political thought.

Salons were important because they provided a space for intellectual and cultural exchange among artists, writers, philosophers, scientists, and other prominent figures. They fostered creativity, innovation, and the dissemination of new ideas, leading to advancements in various fields. Salons also played a key role in shaping public opinion and influencing political and social movements during their time.

Key influences on the Enlightenment included thinkers such as John Locke, who emphasized natural rights and social contract theory; Isaac Newton, whose discoveries in physics and mathematics encouraged a more rational and scientific approach to understanding the world; and Voltaire, whose advocacy for freedom of thought and expression helped shape the movement.

The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement in the 17th and 18th centuries marked by a focus on reason, science, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Key figures included philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke, who advocated for ideas such as freedom of thought, separation of church and state, and social progress through reason and education. The Enlightenment had a profound impact on politics, science, and art, laying the foundation for modern Western thought.

The French bourgeoisie, or middle class, strongly embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment. They were influenced by the philosophy of thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, which emphasized reason, individual rights, and challenging traditional authority. The Enlightenment ideals played a significant role in fueling the French Revolution of 1789.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778 CE) promoted democracy and personal freedom under the law during the Enlightenment. He made several important literary contributions during this time period. His first book, 'Discourse on the Origin of Inequality' was published in 1755 and discussed uneven property distribution and its effects on society. His book, 'The Social Contract' published in 1762, discussed democracy and freedom. Also published in 1762 was his book 'Emile' which stated that men could be molded and changed by education and that women should remain subordinate to men. Rousseau was a major contributor to the discussion of social issues and improvement during the Enlightenment.

Descartes is known for his idea of "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), which highlights the importance of individual reasoning and skepticism. This emphasis on rational thinking and questioning of beliefs contributed to the Enlightenment era's focus on reason, logic, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Because it emphasized human reason, the Enlightenment led to the establishment of colleges and libraries in Europe and America. These institutions usually served a tiny elite, but newspapers and pamphlets made science and literature available to the masses.

What was striking is that some African Americans, whose advantages were far more limited, also became scientists and authors.

Most African Americans who gained intellectual distinction during the late eighteenth century owned more to the Great Awakening than to the Enlightenment. The best known of these is Jupiter Hammon, a Long Island slave who published religious poetry in the 1760s. But Phillis Wheatley and Benjamin Banneker, who were directly influenced by the Enlightenment, became the most famous black intellectuals of their time.

Savannah Guthrie is 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall.

Key figures in the Enlightenment included philosophers like Voltaire, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as scientists like Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei. These thinkers promoted reason, science, and individual rights over traditional authority and superstition, influencing significant social and political change in Europe.

Frederick the Great supported the idea of religious tolerance and freedom of thought. He promoted religious freedom within his kingdom, allowing people of different faiths to practice their religions openly and without persecution.

Hume thought that miracles were subjective experiences, and was highly sceptical of them, cf "Of Miracles"

"A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature; as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws, proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as any argument from experience as can possibly be imagined. Why is it more than probable that all men must die; that lead can not, of itself remain suspended in the air; that fire consumes wood, and is extinguished by water; unless it be that these events are found agreeable to the laws of nature, and there is required a violation of these laws, or in other words, a miracle to prevent them? Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it happen[s] in the common course of nature...

...There must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation." -David Hume

Hume thought that such uniform experience was indeed direct, and full proof against miracles.

He also was suspect of the absence of miracles, prodigies, and wonders in his time, and called into question "The reliability of the witnesses" of previous times. He was the first to apply the term atheist to himself in the modern sense of the word.

Governments censored publications, banned certain books, and punished those who promoted Enlightenment ideas. Religious authorities also condemned these ideas as heretical and sought to suppress them through censorship and persecution. Universities and established institutions worked to discredit Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas to maintain their influence and power.

The trading of goods and ideas refers to the exchange of physical products as well as knowledge, innovations, and expertise between individuals, businesses, or nations. This process plays a crucial role in economic development, cultural exchange, and fostering collaboration among different groups or societies.

The central belief of the Enlightenment was the promotion of reason, individualism, and the idea that knowledge, science, and human understanding could improve society and individuals. It emphasized intellectual freedom, skepticism of traditional authority, and the importance of human rights and equality.

The Age of Reason is also known as the Enlightenment, an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasized reason, science, and individual rights and had a profound impact on philosophy, politics, and society.

The first two paragraphs of the American Declaration of Independence sum it up perfectly, they espouse liberty, freedom, and the importance of reason and rationality in a decision. They also are written by Jefferson, himself a great enlightenment thinker, basing his work on other notable enlightenment thinkers, most notably, John Locke.

Enlightenment is a state of awakening where one has deep understanding and insight into the true nature of reality. It involves transcending the ego and experiencing a sense of oneness with the universe. Enlightenment is often associated with profound peace, love, and wisdom.

Enlightenment in a simple term discusses education. The more a person 'enlightens' themself about politics, new theories, governing styles, new academic fields, the more successful they will be.

An enlightenment statement is a concise expression that conveys wisdom, insight, or clarity about a certain aspect of life or existence. It is typically profound, thought-provoking, and aimed at providing enlightenment or understanding to the reader or listener.

Montesquieu's major contribution to the Enlightenment was his theory of the separation of powers, which greatly influenced the political systems of many countries. He argued for a system of government with distinct branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - each with separate powers to prevent tyranny and promote liberty. His work, particularly "The Spirit of the Laws," helped shape ideas about constitutionalism and the balance of power in modern democracies.

The intellects or thinkers of the Enlightenment were generally called philosophes. They were individuals who promoted reason, science, and intellectual freedom as a means to challenge traditional beliefs and foster social progress. Some famous philosophes include Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Locke.

There were many different enlightenment thinkers that challenged and transformed absolutism.

Enlightenment thinkers who discussed a lot about science included Galileo, and Newton.

Other enlightenment thinkers who discussed more of the politics and philosophies of absolutist powers were Locke, Hobbes, Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, and Descartes.