Research Topics
The Philosophes and Human Reason
Why have historians argued that the
philosophes were a "party of humanity"? Why is it significant that the philosophes themselves labeled their own age an Age of Enlightenment?
Appearing directly after the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century elevated human reason to new heights. Using reason and criticism, the
philosophes sought to free Europe from superstition, fanaticism, intolerance and bigotry.
Sapere Aude! - "Dare to know!" - was the motto of the Enlightenment.