The Enlightenment. Daniel Defoe. Robinson Crusoe.
The Enlightenment. Daniel Defoe. Robinson Crusoe.
The Age of Enlightenment is the most important epoch in the history of European culture. It is characterized by the development of social, philosophical and scientific thought. Freethinking and rationalism were at the heart of this movement. Enlightenment figures believed that knowledge is a powerful engine for the progress of all mankind. Therefore, many scientists, thinkers and writers of this time in every possible way contributed to the spread of educational ideas among the people.
The ideas of enlightenment were born at the end of the XVII century in England under the influence of the scientific revolution. The English thinker John Locke became the founder of this trend. Locke covered in his writings the human rights to life, liberty, and private property. Locke was a teacher so he believed that education and upbringing are of great importance for every person.
The age of Enlightenment had its own characteristics in each country. However, this movement reached its greatest flourishing in the XVIII century in France. The general tasks of enlightenment are as follows:
* The struggle against feudalism.
* The struggle against the Church as it was the most important pillar of the feudal system.
* Creating an ideal model of society. The principles of the bourgeoisie should underlie such a model of society.
The accessibility of knowledge to all segments of society was the main difference between the culture of Enlightenment. Leading thinkers believed that the spread of education could solve many social problems. The dominance of reason in human behavior is the essence of rationalism.
The enlightenment had a huge impact on the development of society. The era has created all the prerequisites for scientific and technological progress.
Educational ideas are reflected in culture, science, music, literature, and theater. Voltaire, Rousseau,Diderot, Alembert, Montesquieu are the best thinkers of the Enlightenment. Their literary works are devoted to the ideas of humanism, freedom and equality.
