World History 10: The Enlightenment
Questions and Answers Already Passed
The Enlightenment ✔✔An eighteenth century intellectual movement whose three central
concepts were the use of reason, the scientific method, and progress.
Enlightenment thinkers believed they could help create better societies and better people. Their
belief was strengthened by some modest improvements in economic and social life during the
eighteenth century.
3 Central ideas of Enlightenment ✔✔1)Reason: The most important and original idea was that
the methods of natural science could be used to examine and understand all aspects of life.
Everything was to be submitted to rationalism.
2) Scientific Method: The scientific method was capable of discovering the laws of human
society as well as those of nature.
3)Progress: The goal of Enlightenment thinkers to create better societies and better people by
discarding outmoded traditions and embracing rationalism.
, Reason and Rationalism ✔✔The general opinion among Enlightenment thinkers that nothing
should be accepted on faith and that everything should be subjected to secular critical
examination.
Emergence of Enlightenment ✔✔The new generation, between 1687(Newton's publication of
"Principia") and 1715(the death of Louis XIV), tied the knot between the scientific revolution
and created a new outlook on life.
3 main causes:
1) Thirty Year's War - Anti-religious sentiment
2) Pierre Bayle - Rise of Skepticism
3) Global Knowledge - Global knowledge about foreign cultures and customs.
4) John Locke - New theory on how human beings learn.
Thirty Year's War ✔✔In the wake of the 30 Years War, many questioned religious truths and if
they could be proved. The need for religious unity was also challenged.
-Isaac Newton(+others) believed that they were explaining God's work, unlike during the
Enlightenment
Questions and Answers Already Passed
The Enlightenment ✔✔An eighteenth century intellectual movement whose three central
concepts were the use of reason, the scientific method, and progress.
Enlightenment thinkers believed they could help create better societies and better people. Their
belief was strengthened by some modest improvements in economic and social life during the
eighteenth century.
3 Central ideas of Enlightenment ✔✔1)Reason: The most important and original idea was that
the methods of natural science could be used to examine and understand all aspects of life.
Everything was to be submitted to rationalism.
2) Scientific Method: The scientific method was capable of discovering the laws of human
society as well as those of nature.
3)Progress: The goal of Enlightenment thinkers to create better societies and better people by
discarding outmoded traditions and embracing rationalism.
, Reason and Rationalism ✔✔The general opinion among Enlightenment thinkers that nothing
should be accepted on faith and that everything should be subjected to secular critical
examination.
Emergence of Enlightenment ✔✔The new generation, between 1687(Newton's publication of
"Principia") and 1715(the death of Louis XIV), tied the knot between the scientific revolution
and created a new outlook on life.
3 main causes:
1) Thirty Year's War - Anti-religious sentiment
2) Pierre Bayle - Rise of Skepticism
3) Global Knowledge - Global knowledge about foreign cultures and customs.
4) John Locke - New theory on how human beings learn.
Thirty Year's War ✔✔In the wake of the 30 Years War, many questioned religious truths and if
they could be proved. The need for religious unity was also challenged.
-Isaac Newton(+others) believed that they were explaining God's work, unlike during the
Enlightenment
