DEFINITION The Enlightenment was an 18th century philosophical movement marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism and reason

Enlightenment Background Starting in the mid 16th/17th Century the Scientific Revolution began Revolution in Astronomy, physics, mathematics, and anatomy Most importantly there was a major shift in the view of the importance of religion and humans place in nature

Enlightenment Background Observational and hypothetical science became more important Called Scientific Method Most important figures were: Copernicus, Galileo, Bacon, Newton, ect

Enlightenment Background The Enlightenment took place in the 17th and 18th Century marked the beginning of an intense period of political revolution and rebellion against existing governments, and the establishment of new nation-states around the world Lead to new nation-states Lead to and based on new ideologies Lead to changes in social structure

Enlightenment Background Questioned established traditions in areas of life such as religion, government, trade/economics, and traditional social structure Way of thinking was influenced by methods and study of science REASON/LOGIC & Empirical observation and study very important

Enlightenment Background Deism taught a believe in God based on rationality and natural observation Not divine intervention or revelations Universalism/Unitarianism taught that all people could and would be saved These both went against a common belief of the time, predestination Deism and Universalism/Unitarianism were both very liberal branches of Christianity

Enlightenment Background Deism taught a believe in God based on rationality and natural observation Not divine intervention or revelations Does not interfere directly with the world Universalism/Unitarianism taught that all people could and would be saved These both went against a common belief of the time, predestination Deism and Universalism/Unitarianism were both very liberal branches of Christianity

Enlightenment Background Question assumptions about government and society that had gone unquestioned for centuries Dismissed all inherited beliefs about social class and religion, asked why things had to be the way they were Enlightenment thinkers wanted broader participation in government and leaders who were more responsive to their citizens

Enlightenment Background Thinkers were called philosophes Largely located in France and England The Philosophes believed that the people had the capability to make changes that would make life better Generally had a positive outlook on life and the future

Enlightenment Background The new ways of understanding the world based on one's direct observations or experience, organizing the data of that experience, and only then evaluating political and social life