U6- Le Enlightenment Flashcards
What is the Enlightenment (Age of Reason)?
A cultural and intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, and skepticism toward traditional institutions, promoting intellectual autonomy and the belief that knowledge could improve human society.
Who is Immanuel Kant?
A German philosopher who advocated for intellectual autonomy with the motto ‘Sapere aude’ (Dare to know), urging individuals to think for themselves and question inherited beliefs and dogma.
What does ‘Sapere aude’ mean?
Latin for ‘Dare to know,’ this phrase, coined by Immanuel Kant, encouraged individuals to think independently and embrace reason and knowledge.
What is Rationality in the context of the Enlightenment?
The emphasis on reason as the primary tool for understanding and improving the world, central to Enlightenment thought.
What is Empiricism?
The belief that knowledge is gained through sensory experience and observation, and that it should be tested and proven through scientific methods.
What is a Monarchy?
A system of government where a single ruler, usually a king or queen, holds supreme authority. Enlightenment thinkers often criticized monarchies as an outdated and unjust form of rule.
What role did the Church play during the Enlightenment?
Religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church, held significant power during the pre-Enlightenment era. Enlightenment thinkers often critiqued the church for its control over knowledge and its influence on politics.
What is Feudalism?
A social and economic system that structured society in medieval Europe, where land and power were concentrated in the hands of a few nobles. Enlightenment thinkers sought to challenge and dismantle these rigid social hierarchies.
What is the belief in Progress?
The belief that human society can improve through the application of science, reason, and reform, leading to a more just and prosperous future.
What are Natural Rights?
The idea, popularized by thinkers like John Locke, that all individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property that cannot be surrendered or transferred.
What is the Social Contract?
A theory developed by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke, which argued that legitimate political authority derives from an agreement or contract between the governed and the government.
Who is John Locke?
An English philosopher whose ideas on natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract were foundational to modern liberal political thought.
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
A French philosopher who believed in the social contract and that legitimate political authority arises from the collective will of the people (the ‘general will’).
Who is Voltaire?
A French Enlightenment writer and philosopher who advocated for freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and the separation of church and state.
What is Merit-based Governance?
The idea that political leaders and positions should be filled based on talent and ability, not hereditary privilege or social status.
