The Age of Enlightenment, which lasted from roughly the late 17th century up to the beginning of the 19th century, was humanity 's growth into intellectual maturity. Through scientific inquiry and an emphasis on reasoned discussion, mankind was finally able to think for itself rather than appealing to the authority of the Church, Greek philosophers, or other sources of supposedly revealed truths. The Age of Enlightenment was the period of scientific Awakening; The Age of Enlightenment was mainly around France. The starting point of the Enlightenment was John Locke’s book on Human understanding. The enlightenment attacked the church head on focusing on issues that had been avoided in the past. This took courage to try to defy the church. The Enlightenment let people question anything such as “was the earth the center of the universe” like the church said it was.
The foundations of this French Enlightenment …show more content…
His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment in France and across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the overall development of modern political and educational thought. Rousseau’s novel Emile, a blend of educational treatise and novel was banned by the authorities. Perhaps Rousseau 's most important work is "The Social Contract" that describes the relationship of man with society. Contrary to his earlier work, Rousseau claimed that the state of nature is brutish condition without law or morality, and that there are good men only a result of society 's presence. In the state of nature, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men. Because he can be more successful facing threats by joining with other men, he has the impetus to do so. He joins together with his fellow men to form the collective human presence known as "society." "The Social Contract" is the "compact" agreed to among men that sets the conditions for membership in
The foundations of this French Enlightenment …show more content…
His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment in France and across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the overall development of modern political and educational thought. Rousseau’s novel Emile, a blend of educational treatise and novel was banned by the authorities. Perhaps Rousseau 's most important work is "The Social Contract" that describes the relationship of man with society. Contrary to his earlier work, Rousseau claimed that the state of nature is brutish condition without law or morality, and that there are good men only a result of society 's presence. In the state of nature, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men. Because he can be more successful facing threats by joining with other men, he has the impetus to do so. He joins together with his fellow men to form the collective human presence known as "society." "The Social Contract" is the "compact" agreed to among men that sets the conditions for membership in