Answer :
Final answer:
The Enlightenment was inspired by the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, emphasizing reason and individual thought. Enlightenment figures sought to promote reason, advocate for individual rights, and critique authoritarian structures in European society. Their ideas paved the way for modern democracy and social reform.
Explanation:
What Inspired the Enlightenment in Europe?
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was inspired by earlier intellectual movements and events, particularly the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. Thinkers during the Renaissance began to emphasize humanism and the importance of individual thought, while the Scientific Revolution encouraged observation, experimentation, and rationality. These ideas created a fertile ground for Enlightenment thinkers, who sought to apply reason and evidence to societal issues.
Goals of Enlightenment Figures
Enlightenment figures aimed to change various aspects of European society, chiefly:
- Promotion of Reason: They believed that rational thought could solve societal problems and lead to progress.
- Advocacy for Individual Rights: Many Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, championed the idea of natural rights and the importance of individual freedom.
- Critique of Authority: They criticized absolute monarchy and religious institutions, arguing for political and religious freedom.
Ultimately, the Enlightenment laid the groundwork for modern democracies by emphasizing liberty, equality, and justice, values that became the basis for revolutionary movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
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