The Enlightenment

After the Middle Ages came the Enlightenment?

Enlightenment thinkers were humanists who supported equality and human dignity. They were opposed (in varying degrees) to supernatural occurrences, superstition, intolerance, and bigotry.

The Scientific Revolution of the 17th century is closely associated with the Enlightenment, and in many respects, the two overlap. Scientific thinking played a crucial role in the Enlightenment, as thinkers employed the scientific method to understand the world around them.

During the Enlightenment people developed new ideas about human existence, including peoples’ basic rights and the level of control they should have over their government and their futures. The Enlightenment began in Europe around 1715. Many of their ideas were based in science and reason, which is why this time was also called the Age of Reason.

Five Major Ideas of the Enlightenment

  1. Reason: everything can be known by logic and reason

  2. Nature: everything in nature is good and there for a reason.

  3. Happiness: life should be enjoyed and we should focus on the good stuff. 

  4. Progress: society and people in general could always improve.

  5. Liberty: people have the right to freedom if they want it.

Activity 1. What was the Enlightenment?.

Research the following questions

  1. What was the Enlightenment?

  2. List and describe five major ideas that characterised the Enlightenment

  3. Give some examples of natural rights.

  4. What do citizens agree to in the social contract?

  5. Explain what the Government could do to maintain the consent of the governed.

  6. How did Kings and Queens gain power before the enlightenment?

  7. Give reasons for why The Enlightenment led to the end of the age of Kings.

  8. How does a change in Australia's Consent to be governed affect a prime minister or a president?

  1. Adopt a philosopher

The Enlightenment was an intellectual revolution in the 1700s. Philosophers said "Can we use reason and science to understand everything instead of just accepting what authorities (Kings and religion) tell us!"

Key thinkers such as John Locke (who inspired modern democracy), Voltaire (who fought for free speech and questioned religion), Rousseau (who said all people should be free), and Kant (who encouraged people to think for themselves).

These ideas helped spark revolutions and shaped how we think about human rights, democracy, and freedom today.

Activity 2. Introducing philosophers to social media

There are many "thinkers" or "philosophers" who contributed to the Enlightenment.

In this task you will act as the social media advisor for an enlightenment philosopher.

You need to know your client well enough to prepare suitable and effective Instagram posts on their behalf.

Your account will need the following three parts:

  1. A profile of your philosopher (background information) include profile picture and handle.

  2. 5 posts that explain the key ideas of your philosopher to a modern audience.

  3. 2 posts that use the philosophers ideas to explain a current event.