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The Anti-Enlightenment Movement

The Anti-Enlightenment Movement was a broad intellectual reaction during the 18th and early 19th centuries that challenged the ideas of the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, science, and individual rights. Opponents argued that these ideas could undermine traditional authority, religion, and social stability. They promoted value in tradition, faith, and emotional insight, often emphasizing the importance of community and hierarchy. This movement influenced various romantic ideas, fostering a more subjective view of human experience and often resisting rapid change brought by Enlightenment thinking. Overall, it represented a debate about how societies should balance reason, tradition, and emotion.