The ideas of Enlightenment thinkers were significantly influenced by the Scientific Revolution in several key ways:
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Emphasis on Reason and Rationality: The Scientific Revolution promoted the use of reason, observation, and empirical evidence. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Immanuel Kant adopted these principles, advocating for the use of reason to understand human nature, society, and governance. They believed that rational thought could lead to progress and improvement in all aspects of life.
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Challenge to Traditional Authority: The Scientific Revolution encouraged questioning established beliefs and traditional authorities, including religious and monarchic institutions. Enlightenment thinkers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, followed this path by critiquing the divine right of kings and advocating for individual rights and freedoms, arguing that society could be improved through rational reform.
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Belief in Progress and Improvement: The successes of the Scientific Revolution led to a belief in progress—the idea that human knowledge and society could continually improve. Enlightenment philosophers like Francis Bacon and Thomas Hobbes suggested that through rational thinking and scientific inquiry, humanity could unlock solutions to societal problems, leading to a better future.
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Natural Laws and Universal Principles: Just as scientists sought to uncover natural laws governing the physical world, Enlightenment thinkers sought to identify natural laws governing human behavior and society. For example, thinkers like Montesquieu and Adam Smith explored ideas related to governance, economics, and human rights, positing that certain universal principles could guide the organization of society.
In summary, the Enlightenment built on the foundation laid by the Scientific Revolution, incorporating its methods and spirit of inquiry to explore human existence, governance, and social order.