启蒙运动(英文版)

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment is mankind‘s final coming of age, the emancipation of the human consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error.

-Immanuel Kant

The Enlightenment usually refers to a period between the early 18th century and the French Revolution in1789, in which new thougts were emerging . The Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason) was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to use the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in Church and state.

Evolution

The enlightenment originated in England in 17th century，it was sparked by philosophers such as John Locke (1632-1704), mathematician Newton (1643-1727) and others. The Enlightenment flourished in late 18th century. The enlightenment met its climax in France. After that, it extended to Germany, the Netherland and North America.

1. Feudalism suppressed the bourgeois political rights, so they carry out anti-feudal and antichurch propaganda ideologically, to prepare for the struggle for power.

2.

With the Capitalist economic development, the bourgeoisie‘s economic strength surges ，so they required their own interests ideologically.

3. ①The Renaissance and religious reform promoted the people's ideological emancipation;

②With the development of modern science, rationalism, as an asset Anti-feudal class provides the ideological and theoretical weapon.

Representative figures

Denis Diderot

He was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of the Encyclopedie.

Encyclopedie

The first Encyclopedia is considered to be the pinnacle of the Enlightenment period. It was compiled by Denis Diderot in 1751-1772.

Voltaire

He was famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties , including freedom of religion, free trade, and separation of church and state. Voltaire was a prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poetry, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets.

He was an outspoken supporter of social reform, despite strict censorship laws and harsh penalties for those who broke them. As a satirical polemicist , he frequently made use of his works to criticize intolerance, religious dogma and the French institutions of his day. His most famous work is Candide.

Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy heavily influenced the Fench Revolution,as well as the overall development of modern political,sociological,and educational thought.