Age of Reason
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- 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