The German Enlightenment

The German Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights as key to human progress. Influential thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing challenged traditional beliefs, promoting ideas about personal freedom, moral philosophy, and universal rights. This period encouraged critical thinking and laid the groundwork for modern democracy, ethics, and education. It fostered a spirit of inquiry and debate, shaping Germany's cultural and political landscape and influencing broader European thought. The movement played a crucial role in the development of modern Western philosophy and values.