Enlightened

Definition

Enlightened refers to an approach to governance and power that emphasizes reason, individual rights, and the importance of knowledge, often associated with the ideals of the Enlightenment period. This concept challenged traditional authority and monarchies, promoting reform and progressive policies aimed at improving society through rational thought and scientific understanding.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Enlightened rulers, often called 'enlightened despots,' aimed to implement reforms that improved society while maintaining their absolute power.
2. Key figures like Frederick II of Prussia and Catherine the Great sought to embody enlightened principles by promoting education, legal reform, and religious tolerance.
3. The Enlightenment era highlighted the importance of separation of powers in government, which influenced modern democratic systems.
4. Philosophers such as John Locke and Voltaire championed ideas about individual rights and freedoms that laid the groundwork for future political revolutions.
5. The impact of enlightened thinking extended beyond politics, influencing areas such as science, arts, and education during and after the Enlightenment period.

Review Questions

• How did enlightened thinking influence the policies of enlightened despots during the 18th century?
  • Enlightened thinking profoundly influenced enlightened despots by encouraging them to adopt policies that promoted education, legal reforms, and social improvements while still maintaining their absolute authority. Rulers like Frederick II of Prussia implemented reforms such as modernizing the legal system and supporting religious tolerance. These rulers believed that by improving the lives of their subjects through rational governance, they could strengthen their own rule and enhance the state.
• Evaluate the significance of Enlightenment ideas on modern democratic principles.
  • Enlightenment ideas played a crucial role in shaping modern democratic principles by emphasizing individual rights, equality, and the social contract. The concept of separating powers in government proposed by thinkers like Montesquieu became foundational in many democratic systems today. Additionally, Enlightenment ideals about consent of the governed inspired revolutionary movements across Europe and America, leading to significant political changes that aimed to create more representative forms of government.
• Analyze how Enlightenment thought challenged traditional power structures in Europe and its long-term effects on societal governance.
  • Enlightenment thought challenged traditional power structures by promoting reason over hereditary privilege and advocating for individual rights against absolutism. This ideological shift encouraged critical questioning of monarchies and church authority, leading to revolutions like the American and French Revolutions. The long-term effects included the establishment of democratic governments based on principles of equality and human rights, significantly reshaping European societies into modern nation-states that prioritize citizen participation in governance.

Related terms

Rationalism:

A philosophical belief that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge and the basis for understanding the world.

Social Contract:

A theory that suggests individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms to a governing body in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Humanism:

A cultural and intellectual movement that emphasizes the value of human beings, individually and collectively, and focuses on human potential and achievements.