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Enlightenment
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, a scientific revolution occurred which gave humankind a much better understanding of the universe and its functioning than ever before. One of those scientists was Isaac Newton, who, in addition to his work with gravitational laws, also developed principles of light and refraction. From this revolution in science came an intellectual and cultural movement who's name came from a metaphor based in Newton's experiments with light. Called the "Enlightenment," this movement worshipped the practical and marveled in the applied, and changed not only Europe, but the entire world. The Enlightenment took principles learned through scientific observation and study, and applied them to everyday life including such things as medicine, politics, nature, religion, literature, and others. The application of these principles in the real world gave rise to the modern world and its notions of democracy, economics, religion, international affairs, and almost every other aspect of modern life.
The term "Enlightenment" refered to the illumination of the mind through knowledge and understanding. In this metaphor, ignorance equated with darkness while knowledge and understanding are compared to light. When the darkness is removed by the light, one can see and understand more about the universe that surrounds them. Light is what removes the darkness and allows...
While the exact origin of the term is unknown, what is know is that some time around 1700, "the fashion arose of praising some people for being 'enlightened.'" (Jacob, 2001, p. 1) Those who were bestowed with this honor were not constrained by the dictates of religion, read widely, visited intellectual centers and scientific presentations, or traveled the world extensively. In other words, "enlightened" meant being knowledgeable about the world.
As people began to become more knowledgeable about the world, they came to an important conclusion: than humankind was a part of the natural world. Until the acceptance of this principle, most people accepted the religious view of mankind; that humans, as special creations of God, were apart from nature. The natural world was a gift from God for use by humankind. But a greater knowledge of nature demonstrated that man was but one species among the various species inhabiting this planet. Humans stopped being "special," and accepted that they were not only part of nature, but subject to the laws of…
References
Jacob, Margaret. (2001). The Enlightenment: A Brief History with Documents. Boston,
MA: Bedford/St. Martins. Print.
Works Cited Baumgarten, Linda. (2002). What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Bilhartz, Terry D., and Elliott, Alan C. (2007). Currents in American History: A Brief History of the United States, Volume 1. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. Crunden, Robert Morse. (1996). A Brief History of American Culture. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. Fisher, John Hurt. (2001). "British and American, Continuity and Divergence"
Progress During the Enlightenment The notion of progress is as evolving as the modern society we deem progressive. While some view progress in terms of science and technology, others view progress in terms of government, social equality, economic stability, spirituality and moral sensitivity. In terms of technology, our current society is more technologically advanced than ever before. We can pick up a telephone and speak to loved ones in other cities,
Enlightenment on the French Revolution Revolutionary changes in the leadership of 18th Century France did not occur overnight or with some sudden spark of defiance by citizens. The events and ideals which led to the French Revolution were part of a gradual yet dramatic trend toward individualism, freedom, liberty, self-determination and self-reliance which had been evolving over years in Europe, and which would be called The Enlightenment. This paper examines
Science and Religion in the 17th Century The Interaction between Science and Religion in the Seventeenth Century: Transforming our World The world we know today has been shaped by many important events. Some people may see the industrial and the technological revolutions of the past two centuries as central pillars that have helped humanity not only survive, but also advance greatly. Others may see political revolutions as central to our society's progress, be
Pleasure Garden In the eighteenth century, the concept of pleasure gardens flourished in Britain, a trend that could be traced partly to the relatively stable democratic government coupled with the international trade that thrived at that time in London. Vauxhall Gardens was perhaps the most famous pleasure garden according to the lectures. Founded in 1661, it reached the peak of popularity during the early years of the nineteenth century. It became
Irrationalists and the Enlightenment Thomas Carlyle and his friend Mazzini were a couple of the "irrationalists" who opposed the Enlightenment developments and believed men needed a "new religion" (Stromberg 50) in order to guide them towards future progress. The Napoleonic Wars had upset the order that the Age of Enlightenment had cultivated -- essentially a Protestant takeover throughout Europe in which the Protestant ethos sat at the heart. The backlash