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Filza Cyril Das

Dr. Waseem Anwar

ENG 510

22 February 2017

Features of Enlightenment

The term Enlightenment took its name from the philosophical movement/ revolution that
started in the 1720 till the 1780.
This movement propagated beliefs and notions which were in direct contrast to the
religion oriented societies and beliefs.
The pioneers of this movement, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
Voltaire, Immanuel Kant, John Locke and etc., meant to enlighten their less-forward
thinking peers with their writings and philosophies.
Their views and writings were in direct contrast with the existing and prevailing
theologically dominated, determined doctrines, organized knowledges and their
applications.
They termed all such notions and concepts that were beyond human control and
experience as myths and tools of fear used effectively in brain-washing and controlling
humans.
The main and prominent feature of Enlightenment was the disputation about the Churchs
pre-eminence in governing common societal wisdom, and also the myth about the
natural rights of the hereditary aristocracy.
The writers of Enlightenment proved essential and a catalyst on bringing about the French
Revolution.
They also presented radical views in regard to the pivoting metaphysical philosophies and
ideologies.
The aim of enlightenment was to rid the humans of the guilt of the past and fear of the
future.
One of the main features of Enlightenment was the empiricist understanding of the world.
Empiricism established that knowledge originated from the human experiences and
sensations.
The thinkers and followers of enlightenment believed and wrote that the conception of all
knowledge and ideas are based in the human experiences.
Enlightenment bolsters and encourages the confidence in human reason and rejects
traditional and religious authority.
Enlightenment also revolutionized the thinking processes of the humans in terms of
critical thinking and interpretation as well as general cognition. It also upholds the belief
that knowledge should be impartial, neutral and objective.
In the field of science, Bacon, a contemporary of Montaigne, spelled out an ambitious
program of enquiry based on investigation and experiment instead of acceptance of
authority.
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Human reason was no longer a frail and unreliable prop in a world of mystery but a sturdy
guide in a universe that was gradually being understood and an environment that was
gradually being mastered by man-centered rationality and reason.
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