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dateCreated: 2024-08-06, 09:12
dateModified: 2024-08-06, 09:12
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- "[[Age of Enlightenment]]"
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Reason and rationality: Enlightenment thinkers placed great faith in human reason and rational thought as the primary means of understanding the world and solving problems. They advocated using logic and empirical evidence rather than relying on tradition, superstition, or religious dogma.
Individual liberty: The Enlightenment promoted individual rights and freedoms, challenging absolute monarchies and religious authorities. Thinkers like John Locke argued for natural rights and the consent of the governed.
Scientific method: There was a strong emphasis on empiricism and the scientific method as ways to gain knowledge about the natural world. Figures like Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton exemplified this approach.
Progress and human improvement: Enlightenment philosophy held an optimistic view that human society could be improved through rational changes to education, politics, and social institutions.
Religious tolerance: Many Enlightenment thinkers advocated for religious freedom and separation of church and state, challenging the dominance of established churches.
Education and knowledge: There was a belief in the power of education and the spread of knowledge to improve society. Projects like Diderot's Encyclopédie aimed to compile and disseminate knowledge.
Skepticism: Enlightenment thought encouraged questioning established beliefs and authorities, promoting critical thinking.
Cosmopolitanism: Enlightenment figures often saw themselves as citizens of the world, promoting exchange of ideas across national and cultural boundaries.
Social reform: Many Enlightenment thinkers advocated for reforms in areas such as criminal justice, economics, and gender equality.
Secularism: While not necessarily atheistic, Enlightenment thought generally promoted secular approaches to politics and social issues, separating them from religious authority.