how did humanism affect the enlightenment

Answer 1

Humanism played a significant role in shaping the Enlightenment movement, as it emphasized the importance of reason, critical thinking, and the value of human potential. Humanist thinkers such as Erasmus, Montaigne, and Machiavelli laid the foundation for the Enlightenment by promoting individualism, secularism, and the belief in the power of human reason to solve problems and improve society.

The humanist emphasis on education and the pursuit of knowledge also influenced Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke, who advocated for the spread of knowledge through education and the use of reason to challenge traditional authority and superstition. Humanism's focus on the dignity and worth of the individual helped to shape Enlightenment ideas about individual rights, freedom, and democracy.

Overall, humanism provided the intellectual tools and philosophical framework that helped pave the way for the Enlightenment movement, which in turn led to significant advances in science, philosophy, politics, and society.