Enlightenment was the movement against the structured social and religious beliefs about the reality. It ushered the era of reason, logic, and empiricism that revolutionized the lives of people. So, proper understanding ideals of enlightenment seems unavoidable.
Causes of enlightenment movement
Worthy to mention the fact that earlier to seventeenth century, there were ideas and beliefs completely biased against freedom and wellbeing of human beings.
Accordingly, natural hierarchical social structure and Church underpinned the political authority assumed the unchallenged and permanent.
So, it was hardly possible to endure and withstand the inequalities, subjugation and social discrimination for the commoners generally in Europe and France in particular.
Eventually, the demand for justice, equality, freedom and fraternity melted the crustal shield to reassert the supremacy of humanity.
Meaning of enlightenment movement
Before to proceed to get understanding ideals of enlightenment, let’s begin with simple definition.
It was a natural urge of human to realise the gifted potential by the virtue of power of logic and empiricism. In easy way, people believed that the true knowledge can be explored by using reasoning and empirical strategy could be used to know whether the explored or claimed knowledge is true or false.
For more clarity, nothing could be taken as granted unless thing in question is tested as per the principle of nature.
In short, enlightenment was a right blend of reason, empiricism, and wellbeing of human beings or supremacy of human being. Further, in the process of understanding enlightenment movement, let’s take a glimpse of impacts and changes afterwards.
Enlightenment was the counter but natural force that gushed out of human reason and conscience to eradicate myths assumed by minority to dominate ignorant. In short, ideals of enlightenment movement that sown the seed of modern civilization we live, need to be realised thoroughly to bequeath next in queue.
Social beliefs about reality of world before enlightenment
Hardly was the courage there prior to enlightenment movement to claim the alternative ways to know the truth that earlier was attributed to religious sculptures.
Obviously, the truth was shrouded in the sacred and descended religious sculptures, and it was impossible to think about transgression.
Literally, there were only two classes of subordinated and superordinated as per the supreme authority of structured but strongly biased beliefs and practices.
Reason, Testing and realisation in enlightenment
Evidently, reasoning is a means to find out the interconnections and relationships between things based on observation and patterns of phenomenon.
So, the torch bearer scientists proved that by using reasoning gifted by nature, knowledge and truth could be explored of the world we live.
And, further, they added that it is in the interest of human being to do so and improve the livelihood of millions suffering. Meantime, they appreciated the supremacy of nature and stressed that on the basic principle of nature, the knowledge in question could be tested.
Empiricism and scepticism
In continuation, they claimed that it is inconsistent to nature and its principle to take something granted as true. Nor it could be a genuine knowledge until we taste it by the proper means like natural laws. Empirical research method was the most invaluable gem we churned out of enlightenment movement.
Supremacy of human being
Why did nature bestow the power of reason, logic to the human beings? What should be the ultimate goal of human beings? Is it acceptable to live as per the potential given or follow the ethos of world rejection?
These were the genuine questions that enlightenment thinkers answered in favour of living comfortable and meaningful life.
Religious tolerance and fraternity
If all the people are equal in the eyes of God as per the principle of nature, it is unethical to divide them on the line of beliefs, faiths, colour, and creed.
In simple terms, if the ultimate truth is omnipresent and beyond biases, it is unwise to rely on lenses of faith and colour to judge and label person in question.
At the same time, the Idea of freedom and coercion free lives was advocated and cherished to empower, encourage person to go for allround development without fear.
Eventually,
Unequivocally, the ideals of enlightenment movement proved as harbinger of modern civilization where people are empowered to live what they deserve; insted, what other desires…
Impacts of enlightenment movement
Precisely, the enlightenment movement was dominant in the Europe over hundred years from seventeenth to eighteenth century. It superseded the beliefs of conservatism and permanency.
Down the line, it was advocated that human abilities like reasoning and empiricism could be employed to explore true knowledge about religion, politics, nature, etc. to improve the livelihood of people.
Likewise, people under colonial rule, subjugation, subordination, and oppression raised the flag of revolts in the forms of French and American revolutions. I think these arguments would help you to construct an image about enlightenment movement.
Last words on understanding ideals of enlightenment,
Undoubtedly, enlightenment movement totally shaped and transformed each and every sphere of people thereafter.
And, it became a huge water divide between ideas that rely on what society and religious mentalities believe to be true and what is actually true. This is a short piece of writing regarding understanding ideals of enlightenment.
Adverb Clause Of Cause And Reason
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTkyAZY15L6UOEUl3y85XYw
Empirical research methodology