The Radical Enlightenment

The Radical Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that challenged traditional authority, religious dogma, and social hierarchies. It emphasized reason, individual freedoms, scientific inquiry, and democratic principles, advocating for critical thinking and moral progress. Unlike more moderate Enlightenment thinkers, radicals sought profound societal reforms, often questioning authority figures like monarchs and the church. Their ideas fueled revolutions and modern ideas about human rights, liberty, and equality, shaping contemporary democratic and secular values.