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The Enlightenment marked a pivotal shift in Western history, emphasizing reason, science, and individualism. Key figures like René Descartes and Isaac Newton propelled this movement, which spanned from 1637 with 'Cogito, ergo sum' to the French Revolution and beyond. It influenced democratic ideals, scientific thought, and cultural norms, while also being subject to modern critiques and re-evaluations. The period saw the rise of the public sphere, changes in the arts, and the spread of ideas through the Republic of Letters.
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The Enlightenment emerged as a movement emphasizing reason, science, and individualism over tradition and religious authority
René Descartes and "Cogito, ergo sum"
René Descartes' famous phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" epitomized the shift towards individual rationality during the Enlightenment
Isaac Newton and "Principia Mathematica"
Isaac Newton's groundbreaking work "Principia Mathematica" revolutionized scientific thought and solidified the Enlightenment as an era
The Enlightenment is generally considered to have begun in the 17th century and extended into the 19th century, shaping modern democratic, scientific, and educational foundations
The Enlightenment was a dynamic and international movement, with ideas circulating and evolving beyond European borders
Scholars now recognize the global dimension of the Enlightenment, acknowledging the contributions of thinkers from different cultures who adapted its principles to their own contexts
The Enlightenment's influence persisted into the 19th century, challenging the view of it as a temporally and geographically isolated event
Modern critiques have prompted a re-examination of the Enlightenment's legacy, with some arguing that its pursuit of reason led to unintended forms of control and domination
Historian Jason Josephson Storm suggests that the Enlightenment's narrative is more complex than previously thought, with spiritual beliefs persisting and the division between humanities and sciences being more porous
These perspectives invite a nuanced understanding of the Enlightenment's intellectual landscape
The Enlightenment fostered the emergence of the public sphere, where debate and the exchange of ideas were supported by the growth of print media and social venues like coffee houses and salons
Access to the public sphere was often limited by gender and class, despite its intended basis on egalitarian principles of reason
The public sphere was instrumental in disseminating Enlightenment thought and fostering a culture of intellectual engagement
The Enlightenment's emphasis on knowledge and critical inquiry made art, literature, and music more accessible to the expanding middle class
Public concerts gained popularity during the Enlightenment, with composers like Handel and Mozart achieving fame through public patronage
The Enlightenment's quest for order and understanding extended to the arts, with the publication of comprehensive music dictionaries and histories that aimed to categorize and rationalize musical knowledge
The Enlightenment's philosophes played a key role in propagating their ideas through the Republic of Letters, a conceptual network of intellectuals across Europe
Women, especially those hosting salons in Paris, were central to the intellectual exchange within the Republic of Letters
The expansion of the book industry during the Enlightenment made literature more accessible, contributing to the spread of Enlightenment ideas
00
René Descartes' statement, '______, ______ ______,' from 1637, is often cited as a foundational moment for the Enlightenment's focus on personal logic.
Cogito
ergo
sum
01
Isaac Newton's '______ ______,' published in 1687, was a key work that transformed ______ during the Enlightenment.
Principia Mathematica
scientific thought
02
Enlightenment's global influence
Ideas spread, adapted by various cultures globally, not just European.
