The Enlightenment – Philosophical and Intellectual Movement

The Enlightenment was the period of cultural and intellectual awakening which was largely based in Europe, mainly Western Europe, when thinkers and scholars highlighted the importance of reason, science, and individual rights. The ideas that we now refer to as ‘classical liberalism’ emerged out of significant debates and developments swept from the late 1600s to the late 1700s.

During this era ideas like democracy, human rights equality, law and order, and separation of church and states. Thinkers like John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Adam Smith spread their new and radicalized ideas which were met with resistance by the government and religious leaders.

Overview of The Enlightenment Movement

Feature	Description
Time Period	Roughly between the late 17th century and the 18th century, peaking in the mid-18th century.
Key Locations	Europe, particularly in France, England, Scotland, and Germany, with influences spreading globally.
Central Themes	Reason, individualism, skepticism of traditional institutions (church and monarchy), and the belief in progress, tolerance, and liberty.
Key Figures	John Locke, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, Immanuel Kant, Adam Smith, among others.
Major Contributions	– Philosophy: Advocacy for freedom of expression, separation of church and state, and social contract theory. – Science: Emphasis on empirical evidence and the scientific method. – Politics: Ideas about democracy, liberty, and the separation of powers influenced modern political systems. – Economics: The development of free-market economic theories. – Education: Push for public education to enlighten the populace.
Impact	– French Revolution: Provided ideological foundations. – American Revolution: Influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. – Modern Western Political Thought: Shaped liberal, secular, and democratic ideals. – Scientific Revolution: Fueled advancements by emphasizing reason and observation. –Cultural Reforms: Promoted literacy, criticized superstition, and fostered the arts and literature.
Criticisms & Limitations	– Eurocentrism: Critics argue it overlooked or undervalued non-European knowledge and contributions. – Slavery and Colonialism: Some Enlightenment thinkers either supported or did not challenge existing colonial and slave systems. – Gender Equality: The movement largely ignored women’s rights, with notable exceptions.

Before the Age of Enlightenment – The Philosophical and Intellectual Movement

Before the Enlightenment period, Europe was dominated by religious and political groups who opposed the radicalized ideas and new changes because the newly formed ideas promoted by Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional beliefs and promoted the use of reason, and freedom of expression which directly conflicted with the teachings and control of the church and threatened the power of influence of the churches. The works of Enlightenment thinkers were opposed and banned by the government and churches.

The Enlightenment thinkers proposed ideas which shaped the modern world and economy we see right now, their principles and beliefs have set the foundation of what we uphold today.

Emergence of the Enlightenment – Philosophical and Intellectual Movement

The emergence of The Enlightenment can be traced back to its origin to Rene Descartes’s Discourse on the Method  which sets out his method for learning through logical approval on methods published in the year 1687. The Enlightenment was established by the belief in the possibility of a better world.

In the eighteenth century, it ruled the European nation. It is also marked by the emphasis on simplifying reasoning and science with increased questioning of religious orthodoxy and evil practices done in the name of religion.

It was a time of major intellectual upheaval characterised by the rise of reason. The roots of the origin period can be traced back to the Renaissance, a period of reawakening in art, culture and intellectual pursuits, however it was the Scientific Revolution which saw a shift in thinking towards reason, science and individual rights thus truly laying the groundwork of the period of Enlightenment.

Emergence of New Ideas and Notions During the Enlightenment Era

During the Enlightenment period various prominent figures made significant contributions towards the era of enlightenment and this period saw a rise of ideas including Rationalism, Liberty, Tolerance, Individualism, Empiricism etc., here is a concise summary of those ideas:

1. Rationalism

The idea of rationalism holds that people’s beliefs and behaviours should be guided by information, reason, and logic rather than emotion or faith, it is the practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority while making decisions. It emphasises the importance of logical reasoning and understanding. René Descartes , the French Philosopher, scientist and the author of the book Discourse on method is regarded as the father of modern rationalism.

2. Liberty

Liberty is the ability or state of acting independently from coercion. It is the theory of principle that holds that every person has the right to autonomy as well as the right to live without interference from or limitations on their political beliefs, manner of life, or behaviour by a higher authority.

3. Tolerance

Scholars like John Locke and Voltaire were the patrons of religious tolerance and free speech without fear of punishment. It is other people’s abilities and views that allow variety to function as a force for good in society.

4. Individualism

Individualism is the moral viewpoint that captures the idea of one’s moral or ethical perspective on a particular issue, it emphasises the intrinsic moral worth of an individualism and what makes one individual differ from another.

5. Empiricism

Empiricism is a philosophical approach that emphasises that all learning comes from only experience and observations rather than just relying on speculation and reason and already existing facts. It is stimulated by the rise of experimental science by thinkers like John Locke, David Hume and George Berkeley.

Developments Throughout the Age of Enlightenment

These ideas showed intellectual, social and political transformation across the states of Europe and then in the other parts of the world. One of the key outcomes of the radicalised ideas during the Enlightenment was the advocacy and promotion of individual rights and equality. These ideas formed the foundation for modern concepts of human rights and personal autonomy.

Even with the rise of the market the economy was influenced by the ideas of thinkers like Adam Smith who  introduced various concepts of economy like free market, supply and demand. There were significant changes and new concepts which ought to challenge traditional beliefs, let’s understand about the key changes taken place during The Enlightenment period:

1. Promotion of Individual Rights and Freedom

Radicalised ideas emphasised on the rights and privileges of individuals in various aspects of life including freedom, equality and personal autonomy. Thinkers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau advocated for the rights of individuals and their basic human rights challenging the oppressive mindset of the higher authorities.

2. Transformation of Political Thought

Radicalised ideas of the Enlightenment period challenged orthodox beliefs of government and religious societies and groups thus changing the disparity between the rulers and the rules.

Thinkers like Voltaire promoted for democratic principles laying the foundation of law and order, separation of powers, separation of church and state. These ideas of the Enlightenment period  promoted the democratic and sovereign ideals.

3. Advancement in Science and Reasoning

The progress towards critical thinking, analytics, empirical reasoning started during the Scientific Evolution but it actually saw its rise in the Enlightenment period, emphasis on reason and scientific inquiry led to various growth in the field of science.

Thinkers like Issac Newton, Galileo Galilei made huge contributions to physics and astronomy and Carl Linnaeus not only made contributions in the field of biology but also laid the groundwork of the modern tax economy. Thinkers and scientists together during The Enlightenment period brought significant changes and set the stage for the advancements we see today.

4. Empowerment through Education

Enlightenment thinkers promoted education as they believed that education played a vital role for individuals so that they evolve and gain their full potential and devote themselves towards the progress of the society they belong to.

Schools and universities became more accessible allowing students to expand their perspective which helps them to break down barriers and empower them to think for themselves, question authority and have an individual sense of identity.

5. Challenge to Social Hierarchies

During the Enlightenment era of intellectual and philosophical movement thinkers challenged the beliefs and establishment of social hierarchies by promoting ideas of equality for everyone, freedom of speech and religion.

Enlightenment philosophers John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau developed theories of government where citizens could hold their leaders. accountable which completely revolutionised the earlier authoritarian rule by bringing new fundamental changes in the structure of government.

6. Impact on Cultural and Artistic Expression

Artists and thinkers were inspired by ideals of reason, individualism and freedom thus leading to new forms of creativity across various artistic fields. Art became more purposeful in expressing the philosophical and social ideas that artists want to convey through their art.

Before the Enlightenment the art style was mainly Baroque and Rococo, Baroque was characterised by drama, grandeur, sensual, tension and emotional exuberance while Rococo art was distinguished by lightness, fancy, elegance focusing mainly on pastel colours and decorative elements, this art style changed during the Enlightenment period  and shifted towards Neoclassicism which is the revival of the many styles and spirit of classical where the focus of art emphasis and reflected the Enlightenment ideals such as reason, logical, naturalism, literature, architecture.

Conclusion

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement focusing on knowledge and individual rights over traditional ideas. It embraced the philosophy of empiricism and emphasised morality, logic, and rationality thus giving a new fresh approach towards rights, individualism, critical thinking and art.

People during the Enlightenment were all about using reason, logic, and science to understand the world. It focused on knowledge and individual rights over traditional ideas about science and government. The Enlightenment also had a major impact on politics. It inspired revolutions like the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

FAQs on The Enlightenment – Philosophical and Intellectual Movement

What were the most addressed and relevant ideas during the Age of Reason?

The intellectual foundation of Enlightenment thinkers was based on reason, logic, science and human rights.

Which period came before the period of Enlightenment?

The Renaissance commonly referred to as The Rebirth era  came before The Enlightenment era.

Can the enlightenment period of the 17th century be related to modern society?

Yes, the Enlightenment period can be related to modern society as the period laid the concept of human rights, democracy, law and order and freedom of speech and religion which we see today.

What were the most relevant topics during the political awakening of The Enlightenment period?

Promotion of Individual Rights and Freedom, Empowerment through Education and Challenge to Social Hierarchies are the most addressed topics during the political awakening of The Enlightenment period.

What were the three major ideas of the “Age of Enlightment”?

This intellectual movement started in 17th and 18th century referred as “Age of Enlightment” has three major ideas namely, reason, individualism, and skepticism.