The Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. It influenced various fields, including politics, science, and the arts, promoting ideals of liberty, progress, and human rights. This movement laid the groundwork for modern democratic societies and significantly impacted artistic expressions, leading to a revival of classical themes in Neoclassical architecture.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Enlightenment emphasized reason as a tool for understanding the world, moving away from reliance on religious dogma and superstition.
2. Key figures of the Enlightenment include philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who championed ideas about personal freedoms and government accountability.
3. The movement encouraged advancements in science and philosophy, leading to innovations that transformed society, such as the promotion of scientific inquiry and empirical evidence.
4. Neoclassical architecture emerged during this period as a response to Enlightenment ideals, characterized by simplicity, symmetry, and the incorporation of classical Greek and Roman elements.
5. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual foundation for revolutionary movements across Europe and America, influencing documents like the Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Review Questions

• How did Enlightenment thinkers challenge traditional authority in society?
  • Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority by advocating for reason over faith and encouraging critical thinking. They questioned existing political systems, social hierarchies, and religious institutions, arguing that individuals should be free to think for themselves. This shift led to new ideas about democracy, individual rights, and governance based on consent rather than divine right or tradition.
• Discuss the impact of the Enlightenment on Neoclassical architecture and how it reflects Enlightenment ideals.
  • The Enlightenment greatly influenced Neoclassical architecture by promoting values such as order, symmetry, and clarity. Architects drew inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome to reflect the rational ideals of the time. Structures like the Panthéon in Paris embody these principles, symbolizing enlightenment values through their classical elements while serving as public spaces meant to inspire civic virtue and rational thought.
• Evaluate how the Enlightenment contributed to social changes in Europe during the 18th century, particularly regarding individual rights and political thought.
  • The Enlightenment significantly contributed to social changes in 18th-century Europe by reshaping political thought around concepts like liberty, equality, and fraternity. The emphasis on individual rights led to a questioning of absolute monarchies and encouraged revolutionary ideas that ultimately resulted in movements such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution. These changes marked a transition toward modern democracy where governance was viewed as a contract between the rulers and the governed, fundamentally altering societal structures.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical approach emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge, asserting that knowledge is gained through logical deduction rather than sensory experience.

Humanism:

A cultural and intellectual movement focused on the study of classical texts and values of ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizing human potential and achievements.

Social Contract: A theory in political philosophy that suggests individuals consent to form a society and government in exchange for protection of their rights and freedoms.