The Age of Enlightenment was a cultural movement of intellectuals beginning in late 17th-century Europe emphasizing reason and individualism, rather than tradition. It's the phenomenal age of change, not only physical, but also inner change in people's lives. After a long period of darkness and uncertainty, Enlightenment reminded and exalted the need of thinking! I think, therefore I am, said René Descartes, and he could't be more true. Individuals were encouraged to analyze and criticize everything and everywhere. They were no longer religion fanatics, believing in superior power and waiting for salvation. The age of reason granted them a potentiality to see and feel deeper, to escape from a massive suffering of not knowing, or should I say, of not wanting to know. Bewilderment developed into a rudiment of light.
Enlightenment's purpose was to reform society using reason, to challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith, and to advance knowledge through the scientific module. It promoted scientific thought, skepticism, and intellectual interchange. The Enlightenment was a revolution in human thought.
The bright movement of the age touched variety of aspects and fields of society: economy, social life, art, to name but a few. However, what surprises me the most is the phenomenal change on people's perception to religion. For many years, generation after generation, believed in God, faith, punishment for sins, salvation after death, and lived accordingly. And suddenly, they began to doubt the veracity and sanctity of their religion. Even though the world of Christianity was enormously concussed by Reformation, it is still chocking for me how long time believers have abandoned their faith with the rise of Enlightenment. I could only imagine how strong and influential were the ideas of the age of reason and what impact it had made on people at that time.
Even though I consider myself more of an Romanticism sympathizer, I am truly inspired by philosophers of the Enlightenment era. Especially, with their impact on the politics and conception of human's rights. It effectively touched not only America, but also my country- Lithuania. The Enlightenment influenced a very essential and revolutionary Lithuanian- Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791.
Enlightenment's purpose was to reform society using reason, to challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith, and to advance knowledge through the scientific module. It promoted scientific thought, skepticism, and intellectual interchange. The Enlightenment was a revolution in human thought.
The bright movement of the age touched variety of aspects and fields of society: economy, social life, art, to name but a few. However, what surprises me the most is the phenomenal change on people's perception to religion. For many years, generation after generation, believed in God, faith, punishment for sins, salvation after death, and lived accordingly. And suddenly, they began to doubt the veracity and sanctity of their religion. Even though the world of Christianity was enormously concussed by Reformation, it is still chocking for me how long time believers have abandoned their faith with the rise of Enlightenment. I could only imagine how strong and influential were the ideas of the age of reason and what impact it had made on people at that time.
Even though I consider myself more of an Romanticism sympathizer, I am truly inspired by philosophers of the Enlightenment era. Especially, with their impact on the politics and conception of human's rights. It effectively touched not only America, but also my country- Lithuania. The Enlightenment influenced a very essential and revolutionary Lithuanian- Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791.