Concetti Chiave
- The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that began in 17th century England and spread to France and Germany in the 18th century.
- Known as the Age of Reason, it emphasized the use of reason and science to combat ignorance and superstition.
- Immanuel Kant, a prominent thinker of the era, encapsulated the movement with the phrase "Sapere aude!" encouraging independent thought.
- Key themes of the Enlightenment included tolerance and equality, advocating for acceptance of diverse beliefs and equal rights for all.
- The movement likely concluded during the French Revolution, which embodied many Enlightenment ideals.
Indice
Origins of the Enlightenment
The term Enlightenment denotes an intellectual movement which began in England in 17th century and developed in France and Germany in 18th century (even if all European territory, as every sphere of the life, was influences by it). Such Age in which the movement developed, it known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of the Reason, because it appealed to “lights” of the reason of man and science, like instruments of fight against ignorance and superstition of the Middle age. Really, this peculiarity in fact, characterizes the Enlightenment. One of the greatest thinkers of this period, Immanuel Kant, said that the operative word of this movement is Sapere aude! Have the courage to use one’s own reason! Which stressed the faith in man’s reason and its importance in that period.
Most important themes of the Enlightenment
Among main themes of this period there were the tolerance, which should be extended to other creeds and ways, and the Equality that should be ensured to all men. It is uncertain when Enlightenment ended, probably during the French Revolution, which was its result and by which were stated popular ideals.
General aspects of the Enlightenment
Scholars, antiquarians, travelers, and polygraphs had been the main protagonists of society since 1750. For example, it is thanks to their great work as intermediaries between disciplines that science, the philology of Muratori, the philosophy of Leibniz, Newton, and Antonio Conti, and the constitutional principles of England and the Netherlands spread so widely among the members of an ideal "republic of the learned".With The Spirit of the Laws (1748), The Social Contract (1762), and the Encyclopedia project (1751–1772), however, a significant shift in values, culture, and society occurred.
The philosophy of the French Enlightenment seemed to contrast with the hierarchical, orderly, rigidly defined structure of the French monarchy, with the sovereign at its head. In reality, with the exception of Rousseau's egalitarianism, the idea of democracy did not pervade the minds of the philosophers, who were closely tied to their context and the principles of non-revolutionary reform.
Rather, they were intensely illuminated by the light of Enlightenment reason. This light did not reach the vast majority of the population, who were ignorant of religious and monarchical matters. In general, however, there seemed to be a lack of a thorough understanding of philosophical ideas that could highlight not only their beauty but also their danger.
Everything was seen as an intellectual game, at its maximum, that did not affect social patterns and power relations. On the contrary, they were shaping a new mentality with far-reaching effects, including, for example, the writing of pamphlets and satires against the crown and the formation of a strong public opinion.
The quickest way, to be fair, to communicate the new discoveries of the Enlightenment was through newspapers and magazines. These vehicles of information, however, were not yet fully defined in their typological nature, since the same newspaper could be presented as a gazette, a bulletin, or an almanac. Perhaps for this reason, and the need to clearly communicate the European innovations of the time, specialized publications spread.
Domande da interrogazione
- Qual è l'origine del movimento dell'Illuminismo?
- Quali sono i temi principali dell'Illuminismo?
- Chi erano i protagonisti principali della società durante l'Illuminismo?
- Come si è diffusa la filosofia dell'Illuminismo francese?
- Qual era il ruolo dei giornali e delle riviste durante l'Illuminismo?
L'Illuminismo è un movimento intellettuale iniziato in Inghilterra nel XVII secolo e sviluppatosi in Francia e Germania nel XVIII secolo, influenzando tutta l'Europa.
I temi principali dell'Illuminismo includono la tolleranza verso altri credi e modi di vita e l'uguaglianza per tutti gli uomini.
I protagonisti principali erano studiosi, antiquari, viaggiatori e poligrafi, che fungevano da intermediari tra le discipline.
La filosofia dell'Illuminismo francese si è diffusa attraverso opere come "Lo spirito delle leggi", "Il contratto sociale" e il progetto dell'Enciclopedia, influenzando valori, cultura e società.
I giornali e le riviste erano i mezzi più rapidi per comunicare le nuove scoperte dell'Illuminismo, anche se non erano ancora ben definiti nella loro natura tipologica.
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