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The debating societies discussed an extremely wide range of topics. Before the Enlightenment, most intellectual debates revolved around "confessional"—that is, Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed (Calvinist) or Anglican issues, debated primarily to establish which bloc of faith ought to have the "monopoly of truth and a God-given title to authority."
Age of Enlightenment (or Reason) (Europe, 18th century) Scientific Revolution (Europe, 18th century) Long nineteenth century (1789–1914) Georgian era (the United Kingdom, 1714–1830) Industrial Revolution (Europe, United States, and elsewhere 18th and 19th centuries, though with its beginnings in Britain) Age of European colonialism and ...
Both the moderate Enlightenment and a radical or revolutionary Enlightenment were reactions against the authoritarianism, irrationality, and obscurantism of the established churches. Philosophers such as Voltaire depicted organized religion as hostile to the development of reason and the progress of science and incapable of verification.
Popular resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and aristocracy grew amidst an economic crisis following two expensive wars and years of bad harvests, motivating demands for change. These were couched in terms of Enlightenment ideals and caused the convocation of the Estates-General in May 1789.
René Descartes (/ d eɪ ˈ k ɑːr t / day-KART or UK: / ˈ d eɪ k ɑːr t / DAY-kart; French: [ʁəne dekaʁt] ⓘ; [note 3] [11] 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650) [12] [13]: 58 was a French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, widely considered a seminal figure in the emergence of modern philosophy and science.
Statue of Cesare Beccaria, widely considered one of the greatest thinkers of the Age of Enlightenment.. The Enlightenment in Italy (Italian: Illuminismo italiano) was a cultural and philosophical movement that began in the second half of the eighteenth century, characterized by the discussion of the epistemological, ethical, and political issues of the Enlightenment thought of the eighteenth ...
Ionian Enlightenment, the origin of ancient Greek advances in philosophy and science; Dark Enlightenment, an anti-democratic and reactionary movement that broadly rejects egalitarianism and Whig historiography; Enlightenment Intensive, a group retreat designed to enable a spiritual enlightenment
While the Enlightenment cannot be pigeonholed into a specific doctrine or set of dogmas, science came to play a leading role in Enlightenment discourse and thought. Many Enlightenment writers and thinkers had backgrounds in the sciences and associated scientific advancement with the overthrow of religion and traditional authority in favour of ...