THE ENLIGHTMENT
1. What was the Enlightenment, and why did it have that
name, and what did Enlightenment thinkers believe?:
The enlightenment was a time in the 1700's in Europe when
people began to question old ideas and search for knowledge.
The name Enlightenment refers to the light of knowledge that
supposedly replaces the darkness of superstition and
ignorance. Enlightenment thinkers believed that science and
reason could improve people's lives.
2. What part of the world did the Enlightenment begin?:
Europe
3. Which groups of people played the greatest role in
the Enlightenment?: -
Scientists and scholars
4. Compare and contrast the Renaissance and the
Enlightenment. How were they similar? How did they
differ?: Both reacted against the medieval period, with its
reliance on authorities such as church and king. Renaissance
thinkers looked mainly to the literature and arts of ancient
Greece and Rome for ideas and answers. Enlightenment
thinkers turned to science and reason. They did build on the
work of some Renaissance scientists, such as Copernicus and
Galileo.
5. Who was Isaac Newton? What was the main idea in
Newton's Principia?-
: He was one of the greatest scientists in history. Certain
basic laws of nature were true for the whole physical world.
These laws could be discovered through observation and
reason.
6. How did Newton's work in science influence thinking
in other areas of life?: His work encouraged people not to
accept ideas on faith but to question and search for answers.
7. What one thing was Descartes certain of?: His
1/
, thoughts were his own, and they proved his existence.
8. Why did Descartes choose to live in Holland for much
of his life?: Holland allowed more freedom of thought and
expression than other European countries.
9. How did Descartes change the way people thought
about their world?: He showed people how to use
observation and reason to find truths, rather than accepting
them on faith alone. He encouraged people to question
everything expect their own existence.
10.Why do we call Descartes the father of modern
philosophy?: He intro- duced a new way of thinking about
what we know and how we know it. He insisted on using
reason.
11. How did Thomas Hobbes describe human beings in
their natural state?-
: Cruel, greedy, and selfish; willing to do anything to get what
they wanted.
2/
1. What was the Enlightenment, and why did it have that
name, and what did Enlightenment thinkers believe?:
The enlightenment was a time in the 1700's in Europe when
people began to question old ideas and search for knowledge.
The name Enlightenment refers to the light of knowledge that
supposedly replaces the darkness of superstition and
ignorance. Enlightenment thinkers believed that science and
reason could improve people's lives.
2. What part of the world did the Enlightenment begin?:
Europe
3. Which groups of people played the greatest role in
the Enlightenment?: -
Scientists and scholars
4. Compare and contrast the Renaissance and the
Enlightenment. How were they similar? How did they
differ?: Both reacted against the medieval period, with its
reliance on authorities such as church and king. Renaissance
thinkers looked mainly to the literature and arts of ancient
Greece and Rome for ideas and answers. Enlightenment
thinkers turned to science and reason. They did build on the
work of some Renaissance scientists, such as Copernicus and
Galileo.
5. Who was Isaac Newton? What was the main idea in
Newton's Principia?-
: He was one of the greatest scientists in history. Certain
basic laws of nature were true for the whole physical world.
These laws could be discovered through observation and
reason.
6. How did Newton's work in science influence thinking
in other areas of life?: His work encouraged people not to
accept ideas on faith but to question and search for answers.
7. What one thing was Descartes certain of?: His
1/
, thoughts were his own, and they proved his existence.
8. Why did Descartes choose to live in Holland for much
of his life?: Holland allowed more freedom of thought and
expression than other European countries.
9. How did Descartes change the way people thought
about their world?: He showed people how to use
observation and reason to find truths, rather than accepting
them on faith alone. He encouraged people to question
everything expect their own existence.
10.Why do we call Descartes the father of modern
philosophy?: He intro- duced a new way of thinking about
what we know and how we know it. He insisted on using
reason.
11. How did Thomas Hobbes describe human beings in
their natural state?-
: Cruel, greedy, and selfish; willing to do anything to get what
they wanted.
2/
