In contrast to the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment did not represent the expansion of new ideas for intellectuals only but humanity as a whole. While both periods of discovery sought to expand and develop new ideas about the world around us, the latter was centralized around the social sciences (rather than the natural sciences). Consequently, Enlightenment thinkers believed that the advancement of society lay in the hands of everyone. As a result, the common man could become an integral part of new thought; they were encouraged to “Dare to Know,” as Kant wrote in An Answer to the Question: What is the Enlightenment (Enlightenment Documents, 3).
Despite this positive attitude around advancing human thought during the 18th century, the question of how to achieve such goals remained. To understand how, …show more content…
If there were so many perspectives on so many aspects of life, how can all these Enlightenment thinkers be part of one, singular movement? How is it that Rousseau could see females as “required...play her part in the physical and moral order” of society while others saw all sexes as equal (Enlightenment Documents, 13)? To appreciate the relationship amongst all these thinkers, Kant’s An Answer to the Question: What is the Enlightenment? explains that the 18th century was an “age of enlightenment,” rather than an “enlightened age” (Enlightenment Documents, 6). These phrases may sound almost identical, but their meanings are entirely different. Whereas an “enlightened age” suggests society has reached its final destination, an “age of enlightenment” reminds us that there is still progress to be made, ideas to be discussed, and arguments to be settled. So, yes, much of the writings and ideas of the time may seem conflicting, but it is through this friction that such ideas are eventually
Despite this positive attitude around advancing human thought during the 18th century, the question of how to achieve such goals remained. To understand how, …show more content…
If there were so many perspectives on so many aspects of life, how can all these Enlightenment thinkers be part of one, singular movement? How is it that Rousseau could see females as “required...play her part in the physical and moral order” of society while others saw all sexes as equal (Enlightenment Documents, 13)? To appreciate the relationship amongst all these thinkers, Kant’s An Answer to the Question: What is the Enlightenment? explains that the 18th century was an “age of enlightenment,” rather than an “enlightened age” (Enlightenment Documents, 6). These phrases may sound almost identical, but their meanings are entirely different. Whereas an “enlightened age” suggests society has reached its final destination, an “age of enlightenment” reminds us that there is still progress to be made, ideas to be discussed, and arguments to be settled. So, yes, much of the writings and ideas of the time may seem conflicting, but it is through this friction that such ideas are eventually