Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Age of Reason: A specific historical period in European intellectual history, approximately from the late 17th to the late 18th century. It is characterized by a philosophical movement that emphasized reason, analysis, and individualism over established tradition, authority, and dogma. It is synonymous with the Enlightenment.

Usage

• The term "Age of Reason" is used as a proper noun to refer to the historical era. It is often capitalized.
• It describes the prevailing intellectual and cultural ethos of the time, which prioritized critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and the idea of individual rights.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Philosophers like Voltaire and Rousseau were central figures of the Age of Reason.
  • The ideals of the Age of Reason laid the groundwork for modern democratic thought.
  • Many scientific advancements occurred during the Age of Reason.

Advanced Usage

• "the age of reason" (lowercase): This phrase can sometimes be used more generally, though less commonly, to describe any period where rational thought is predominant. However, when capitalized, it almost exclusively refers to the 18th-century Enlightenment.
  • We must strive to create a new age of reason in public discourse.

Variants and Related Words

• The Enlightenment: The most direct synonym for the Age of Reason, referring to the same historical period and movement.
• Enlightenment thinkers: Philosophers and writers who contributed to the ideas of this era.
• Rationalism: A key philosophical doctrine of the Age of Reason, emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge.
• Secularism: An important concept that grew during this age, separating religious authority from civil governance and philosophy.

Synonyms

• The Enlightenment
• The Era of Enlightenment
• The Century of Philosophy (a term sometimes used in French context)

Related Phrases

• Age of Enlightenment: An alternative and equivalent name for the same period.
• Spirit of the Enlightenment: Refers to the core intellectual principles of the era, such as liberty, progress, and tolerance.

Noun

1. a movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine
   • the Enlightenment brought about many humanitarian reforms