Literature of the Enlightenment

The Literature of the Enlightenment, spanning the 17th and 18th centuries, reflects a focus on reason, science, and individual rights. It includes philosophical works, essays, novels, and poetry that promote critical thinking, challenge authority, and explore ideas of liberty, progress, and human nature. Writers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot used their works to advocate for education, social reform, and the pursuit of knowledge, fostering a shift from tradition-bound thinking to a more rational, questioning perspective that laid the groundwork for modern thought.