Age of Enlightenment
Origins
The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Enlightenment, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Enlightenment emerged out of a European intellectual and scholarly movement known as Renaissance humanism and was also preceded by the Scientific Revolution and the work of Bacon, among others. Its roots are usually traced to 1680s England, where in the span of three decades Newton published his "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" and John Locke his "Essay Concerning Human Understanding"—two works that provided the scientific, mathematical and philosophical toolkit the Enlightenment sought to employ to reshape the world.
Key Ideas and Philosophical Concepts
The Enlightenment included a range of ideas centered on reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy, and came to advance ideals like liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state. In this context, Enlightenment values are the foundation of freethinking and are heavily associated with the rise of modern science and the democratic values it espouses.
The philosophical and political ideas of the Enlightenment radiated throughout Europe, and they were most intensely felt in France, where they became influential in shaping the various movements and ideas that culminated in the French Revolution. The French philosophes, a loosely affiliated group of thinkers and writers, were the leading practitioners and apostles of Enlightenment doctrine.
Influence and Impact
The Age of Enlightenment had a profound impact on the cultural, political, and economic life of its time. It influenced the American Revolution and the French Revolution, both of which had enduring effects on people across the globe. The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason shaped philosophical, political, and scientific discourse, and its influence extended to social movements and religions.
In addition to its impact on the development of democracy, the Enlightenment also contributed to the rise of modern science. The scientific revolution, as it is often called, was a direct result of the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason as a means to understand the natural world. This period saw a decline in the influence of the Church and a rise in the importance of science and reason in society.
Criticism and Counter-Enlightenment
The Enlightenment has always been a contentious time period, with its critics arguing that the emphasis on reason overlooks other valuable human qualities such as emotion and spirituality. Some critics argue that the Enlightenment's emphasis on individualism and reason leads to social isolation and a disregard for community.
The Counter-Enlightenment was a movement that arose in the late-18th and early-19th centuries in reaction to the Enlightenment. Its members, like Edmund Burke and Johann Gottfried Herder, argued that the Enlightenment's rationalism reduced humans to cold calculations and overlooked the bonds of tradition, faith, and community that were necessary for society.
Legacy
The Age of Enlightenment has left a lasting legacy on the world. Its ideas and values continue to be a reference point for discussion in the areas of politics, philosophy, science, and the rights of individuals. Enlightenment principles are deeply embedded in modern Western society, and its ideas have spread globally.