The Enlightenment
By Yash Reddy
Main Idea
The Enlightenment was a period in which many new ideas and beliefs involving logic and practicality were incorporated into society, which led to a decline in religious piety in many areas.
Big Ideas and Themes of The Enlightenment
Reason
Scientific thought and reason produced new ideas and thoughts, which many times led to the decline of religious piety.
Sceptisism
Skepticism among many religious figures such as the Popes and Churches was created.
Individualism
Many depended less on the authority by a higher figure such as God. They made decisions by their own standards, not always by God's standards.
Early Enlightenment (1685-1730)
- Originated in Europe on the basis of the works of Newton, Voltaire, and others.
- Beginning of deviation from superstition and religious wars.
- Start of the acceptance of science and rationalism.
- The intention of the movement was not to undermine Christianity, but to provide further reasoning. However, the movement was taken as an offense and threat to religion.
- Disagreements among thinkers emerged out of rational questioning.
High Enlightenment (1730-1780)
- During this period, many new philosophies were developed, especially in France.
- Unity broke down and many enlightenment thinkers began to exaggerate enlightenment ideas to the extreme.
- The first university in British colonies, Harvard, was opened in 1636 to educate individuals in secular education such as ethics, rhetoric, logic, geometry, and language.
- Education was a highly emphasized and recommended aspect of society, as individuals would be taught the basics of mathematics, science, and law.
- Literacy rates were very high in the colonies, especially for white males.
- Great Awakening occurred as a reassurance of past ideas to the colonists.
- These enlightenment ideas influenced many events and revolutions around the world, such as the French and English revolutionaries.
Key Individuals
John Locke
- Believed that all individuals should have 3 basic right (life, liberty, and property).
- Commonly Known as the "Father of Liberalism"
- Influence Thomas Jefferson through his political and social beliefs
- Author of "Two Treatises of Government"
Benjamin Franklin
- Experimented with electricity in many of his experiments, most notably his experiment with a key and a kite.
- Attempted to form a scientific method of approach when observing or experimenting
- Thought that knowledge was very beneficial to mankind and society as whole.
Denis Diderot
- Primary editor of the Encyclopédie, which comprised of vast knowledge of the arts and sciences, along with commentary on the ideas of other Enlightenment thinkers on a variety of subjects and matters.
- Helped spread the free movement of knowledge throughout the region.
- His Encyclopédie was one of the first methods of available access to knowledge on various topics.