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Enlightenment
European history
Also known as: Age of Reason, Aufklärung, siècle de Lumières
Recent News
Aug. 5, 2024, 1:58 AM ET (NPR)
Sarah Perry's 'Enlightenment' ponders faith, astronomy and friendship
Top Questions
When and where did the Enlightenment take place?
When and where did the Enlightenment take place?
What led to the Enlightenment?
What led to the Enlightenment?
Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
Who were some of the major figures of the Enlightenment?
What were the most important ideas of the Enlightenment?
What were the most important ideas of the Enlightenment?
What were some results of the Enlightenment?
What were some results of the Enlightenment?
Enlightenment, a European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries in which ideas concerning God, reason, nature, and humanity were synthesized into a worldview that gained wide assent in the West and that instigated revolutionary developments in art, philosophy, and politics. Central to Enlightenment thought were the use and celebration of reason, the power by which humans understand the universe and improve their own condition. The goals of rational humanity were considered to be knowledge, freedom, and happiness. A brief treatment of the Enlightenment follows. For full treatment, see Europe, history of: The Enlightenment. The powers and uses of ...(100 of 1098 words)