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Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment (or simply the Enlightenment or Age of Reason) was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. These thinkers believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a better world. Their principal targets were religion (embodied in France in the Catholic Church) and the domination of society by a hereditary aristocracy. Roots of Enlightenment Renaissance - view of man as worthy of admiration and capable of progress. Scientific Revolution – Reason and rationality helped Europe understand the planets and the cosmological order. Therefore, reason can also help us understand society (e.g., politics, economics, religion, law etc.) and help us to make it better. The belief that reason can lead to progress in society is an important Enlightenment idea. Wars of Religion – The many wars fought over religion exhausted Europe and made these thinkers attack religious dogma’s and emphasize the need for religious toleration. (We can’t kill everyone that has a different religion, therefore let us learn to live with them). This toleration will eventually be extended to include political, gender and racial differences as well of freedom of thought and differing opinions. (basic human rights) What these thinkers wanted to oppose: Intolerance Ignorance Religious fanaticism Barbarism (torture) Despotism (absolute monarchy and dictatorships) Anything that remained of Medieval Europe or the “dark ages” Important Enlightenment thinkers: Denis Diderot (1713 – 1784) Editor of the first encyclopedia. He was trying to map out or record all human knowledge. He held the enlightenment ideal that mankind, through rationality, can explain everything. John Locke (1632 – 1704) An important British philosopher who pioneered the idea of the social contract. This says that all governments get their a