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The Enlightenment and Its Impact on the French Revolution

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The Enlightenment, or 'Age of Reason', revolutionized European thought in the 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasized individualism, reason, and skepticism, challenging religious dogma and societal norms. Key figures like Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Diderot led the movement, influencing philosophy, science, politics, and the arts. Their ideas contributed to the French Revolution and continue to impact contemporary democratic society.

The Emergence of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, often referred to as the 'Age of Reason', emerged as a defining intellectual and cultural movement in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, reaching its zenith with the French Revolution in 1789. This epoch was marked by a seismic shift in thinking, as empirical evidence and rational discourse began to challenge the dominance of religious dogma and long-standing societal norms. The movement was widespread, with significant developments occurring in France, Britain, and Germany, among other places. It was an era of profound change across various fields, including philosophy, science, politics, and the arts, fueled by a reinvigorated interest in the classical knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome.
Elegant 18th-century gathering in a garden with individuals in period attire discussing near a classical statue, with a grand building in the background.

The Core Principles of Enlightenment Thought

The Enlightenment was underpinned by three fundamental concepts: individualism, reason, and skepticism. These tenets were espoused by the 'philosophes', particularly in France, who were instrumental in propagating Enlightenment ideals. Individualism promoted the notion of fundamental human rights and equality, reason elevated empirical and scientific inquiry over blind faith, and skepticism fostered a culture of questioning and recognition of the limits of human understanding. John Locke's 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding' (1689) was pivotal in advancing empiricism—the belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience—challenging the rationalist perspective of innate knowledge proposed by René Descartes.

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00

During the Enlightenment, a major shift occurred as ______ ______ and ______ ______ began to question the authority of ______ ______ and traditional customs.

empirical

evidence

rational

discourse

religious

dogma

01

Role of 'philosophes' in Enlightenment

French intellectuals promoting Enlightenment ideals; key in spreading individualism, reason, skepticism.

02

John Locke's contribution to empiricism

Authored 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding'; argued knowledge from sensory experience, against innate ideas.

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