Light

The Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th to 19th century. It emphasized reason, individualism, skepticism about religious authority, and a belief in progress.

Analogy

Think of the Enlightenment as a massive light bulb turning on over Europe. Before this period, people were mostly guided by tradition or religious authority (like walking around with a small candle). But when the Enlightenment hit, it was like someone flipped on a switch and suddenly everyone could see things more clearly and from their own perspective (like being in a well-lit room).

Related terms

Rationalism: This is the principle that all knowledge can be gained through using reason and logic. It's like solving a math problem - you don't guess or use intuition; you follow logical steps to reach your answer.

Secularism: This refers to the principle of separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. Imagine if your school principal had no say over what happens at your local church, mosque or temple - that's secularism.

Humanism: This is an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.