From the fourteenth century to the eighteenth century, Europe went through tremendous intellectual changes. It started by the Renaissance (14th to 17th century) where the traditional ways of thinking and perceptions of the world begun to change. Moreover, it led to two periods, the Scientific Revolution (16th to 18th century) and the Enlightenment period (17th to the 18th century), that one may consider as the foundations, not only the modern European thoughts, but also the way of functioning of the entire world. As Machio Keku, an American Theory physicist said, “Scientific revolutions, almost by definition, defy common sense”.
Before the Scientific Revolution, the world was driven by stagnant thoughts of ancient Greek philosophers such as …show more content…
The enlightenment was full of deeper, intelligent and revolutionary thinkers. These “philosophes” were more focused on the organization of civil societies. They rejected the idea that the right and legitimacy to rule a society comes only from the will of God. Instead, they came along with new theories and ideas that has profoundly changed the face of European and American’s countries. For instance, the development of the political ideals of freedom and equality, the respect of basic individual human rights, the promotion of toleration of religious diversity, the conception of the basic political powers such as a system of checks and balances. Furthermore, their ideas was to establish more just and equitable societies. Consequently, the enlightenment offered the basic model of government founded on the consent and the will of the common people. The outcomes of the successful English Revolution (1688), American Revolution (1775–83), and French Revolution (1789–99) showed the influence that philosophers like John Locke, Jean J. Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and Charles de Montesquieu had on the leaders of those revolutions. The Enlightenment literally gave the continent a new way to look at government and the society. The new system of government was much more beneficial to the continent and it was more reasonable than absolute
Before the Scientific Revolution, the world was driven by stagnant thoughts of ancient Greek philosophers such as …show more content…
The enlightenment was full of deeper, intelligent and revolutionary thinkers. These “philosophes” were more focused on the organization of civil societies. They rejected the idea that the right and legitimacy to rule a society comes only from the will of God. Instead, they came along with new theories and ideas that has profoundly changed the face of European and American’s countries. For instance, the development of the political ideals of freedom and equality, the respect of basic individual human rights, the promotion of toleration of religious diversity, the conception of the basic political powers such as a system of checks and balances. Furthermore, their ideas was to establish more just and equitable societies. Consequently, the enlightenment offered the basic model of government founded on the consent and the will of the common people. The outcomes of the successful English Revolution (1688), American Revolution (1775–83), and French Revolution (1789–99) showed the influence that philosophers like John Locke, Jean J. Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and Charles de Montesquieu had on the leaders of those revolutions. The Enlightenment literally gave the continent a new way to look at government and the society. The new system of government was much more beneficial to the continent and it was more reasonable than absolute