"The Age of Enlightenment or the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that occurred in Europe, especially Western Europe, in the 17th and 18th centuries, with global influences and effects."
The literary works that reflect the principles and ideas of the Enlightenment, including essays, novels, and treatises.
The Enlightenment: A historical context: Enlightenment was a cultural movement in Europe, between the 17th and 18th centuries, which promoted reason as the only source of knowledge and wisdom. The movement focused on scientific, social, and political reforms that went on to transform the Western world.
The Enlightenment and literature: Literature from the Enlightenment period expressed the thoughts and ideas of the enlightenment movement. It focused on critical thinking, rationalizing humanity, and social reforms. Literature during this era reflected the changing social and political worldviews with advocating for science, human values, and equality.
Enlightenment philosophy: Enlightenment philosophy identified the movement's values and ideals. It revolved around reason, liberty, equality, and progress, with an emphasis on individualism, skepticism, and empiricism.
Major Enlightenment writers: Major Enlightenment writers include Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Diderot, and Goethe among others. Each writer contributed to the movement differently and influenced major changes in social, political, and literary values.
Enlightenment literary genres: Literary genres during the enlightenment period included novels, plays, essays, memoirs, and epistles. These works aimed to express the evolving ideas of the time while embracing critical thought and freedom of expression.
The role of women during the Enlightenment: The Enlightenment period saw a shift in the women's role in society. Women began to experience more significant freedoms and were encouraged to participate in literary discourse, such as writing novels and essays.
The influence of science on Enlightenment literature: The scientific revolution of the 17th century led to the ideas of the enlightenment movement. Enlightenment writers incorporated the scientific discoveries in their work, and their philosophies reflected the influence of science.
The Enlightenment and the French Revolution: The Enlightenment period served as a precursor to the French Revolution (1789–1799). The philosophies of the Enlightenment furthered the revolution's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Enlightenment literature and human nature: Enlightenment literature examined humanity's nature, behavior, and motivations. It explored the individual's rationality, emotions, and societal norms, providing a theoretical framework for future social and political reforms.
Enlightenment literature outside Europe: The enlightenment movement also spread outside of Europe, and writers in the Americas and Asia expressed the global impact of the movement. Literature in these regions reflected their unique cultural perspectives while drawing on Enlightenment ideals.
Philosophical treaties: Philosophical treaties in the context of History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature are written works that explore philosophical ideas, principles, and arguments in detail, presenting systematic reflections on topics such as metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy.
Pamphlets, essays and political tracts: Pamphlets, essays, and political tracts were influential literary forms during the Enlightenment era, used to disseminate ideas, argue for political reforms, and ignite revolutionary thinking.
Novels and fictional works: Novels and fictional works refer to imaginative literary pieces that emerged during the Enlightenment era, encompassing various genres and themes to entertain, enlighten, and challenge societal norms.
Autobiographies and memoirs: Autobiographies and memoirs in the context of History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature explore the personal accounts of individuals, offering insights into their lives, experiences, and perspectives during the Enlightenment period.
Poetry: Poetry in the context of History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature refers to the artistic expression of emotions and ideas through the use of vivid language, imagery, and rhythmic patterns.
Scientific or academic works: Scientific or academic works are scholarly writings that aim to explore and advance knowledge in various fields through systematic investigation and critical analysis.
Encyclopedias, dictionaries or other reference works: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, or other reference works were comprehensive compilations of knowledge and language that emerged during the Enlightenment, providing readers with a wide range of information and promoting the spread of knowledge and rational thinking.
Plays and dramas: Plays and dramas in the context of History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature explore the artistic representation of human emotions, social issues, and philosophical ideas, often using dialogue and performance to engage the audience.
Travel stories: Travel stories in the context of History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature refer to literary accounts that chronicle the experiences and observations of individuals journeying to foreign lands.
Satirical or humorous writings.: Satirical or humorous writings in History by Chronology and Enlightenment Literature address societal and political issues through the use of wit, irony, and parody.
"The Enlightenment included a range of ideas centered on the value of human happiness, the pursuit of knowledge obtained by means of reason and the evidence of the senses, and ideals such as natural law, liberty, progress, toleration, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state."
"A variety of 19th-century movements, including liberalism, socialism, and neoclassicism, trace their intellectual heritage to the Enlightenment."
"The ideas of the Enlightenment undermined the authority of the monarchy and the Catholic Church and paved the way for the political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries."
"Philosophers and scientists of the period widely circulated their ideas through meetings at scientific academies, Masonic lodges, literary salons, coffeehouses, and in printed books, journals, and pamphlets."
"The Enlightenment was preceded by the Scientific Revolution and the work of Francis Bacon and John Locke, among others."
"European historians traditionally date its beginning with the death of Louis XIV of France in 1715 and its end with the 1789 outbreak of the French Revolution."
"Many historians now date the end of the Enlightenment as the start of the 19th century, with the latest proposed year being the death of Immanuel Kant in 1804."
"The central doctrines of the Enlightenment were individual liberty and religious tolerance, in opposition to an absolute monarchy and the fixed dogmas of the Church."
"The concepts of utility and sociability were also crucial in the dissemination of information that would better society as a whole."
"The Enlightenment was marked by an increasing awareness of the relationship between the mind and the everyday media of the world."
"The Enlightenment was marked by an emphasis on the scientific method and reductionism, along with increased questioning of religious orthodoxy."
"Some date the beginning of the Enlightenment to the publication of René Descartes' Discourse on the Method in 1637, featuring his famous dictum, Cogito, ergo sum ('I think, therefore I am')."
"Others cite the publication of Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica (1687) as the culmination of the Scientific Revolution and the beginning of the Enlightenment."
"An attitude captured by Kant's essay Answering the Question: What is Enlightenment, where the phrase Sapere aude (Dare to know) can be found."
"The ideas of the Enlightenment undermined the authority of the monarchy and the Catholic Church and paved the way for the political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries."
"Ideals such as natural law, liberty, progress, toleration, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state."
"The concepts of utility and sociability were also crucial in the dissemination of information that would better society as a whole."
"Philosophers and scientists of the period widely circulated their ideas through meetings at scientific academies, Masonic lodges, literary salons, coffeehouses, and in printed books, journals, and pamphlets."
"A variety of 19th-century movements, including liberalism, socialism, and neoclassicism, trace their intellectual heritage to the Enlightenment."