Western Enlightenment

The Western Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights. Thinkers like Newton, Locke, and Voltaire challenged traditional authority, opening new ways of thinking about government, society, and knowledge. It promoted ideas such as liberty, equality, and progress, shaping modern democracies and scientific inquiry. The movement encouraged questioning established beliefs and valuing evidence-based understanding, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking that still influences Western society today.