HISTORY 1DD3 Lecture 2: History 1DD3- The Enlightenment Part 1
21 Sep 2016
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History 1dd3- lecture 2- the enlightenment part 1. In the late 18th century a series of revolutions convulsed europe and north america. Was shaped by a significant european intellectual movement that began in the late 17th century called the enlightenment. A belief in the power of human reason to understand the operation of the universe. A belief and respect for the idea of natural laws governing the universe (rather than supernatural) A belief that toleration of different views was essential to understanding those natural laws and for the advancement of human reason and progress. These principles underpinned the promotion of the idea of change as a good thing, and that human progress was not only possible, but desirable. Enlightenment thinkers applied methods of 16th and 17th century scientists and philosophers like isaac newton and john locke. Newton and other 17th century scientists held that the laws of the universe could be described and analyzed using empirical observation and rational deduction.
