New Thinking Sparks an Age of Reason
The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was inspired by the Scientific Revolution which showed that the universe follows natural laws discoverable through reason and logic, as taught in Grade 7 California myWorld Interactive Chapter 10: Absolutism and Enlightenment. The Renaissance and Reformation had already promoted individualism and questioning authority before thinkers began applying reason to understand human society and government. This topic helps 7th grade students understand the intellectual foundations that shaped modern democracy.
Key Concepts
Before the Enlightenment, major shifts in thinking occurred. The Renaissance celebrated human potential, and the Reformation encouraged people to question authority. These movements promoted individualism and new ways of seeing the world.
Then, the Scientific Revolution showed that the universe followed predictable rules, or natural laws . Thinkers used reason and logic to understand the physical world. This inspired a new question: could reason also be used to discover the laws that governed human society and government?
Common Questions
What was the Enlightenment or Age of Reason?
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement where thinkers used reason and logic to understand natural laws governing human society and government, inspired by the Scientific Revolution discoveries.
What is the Scientific Revolution?
The Scientific Revolution was a period when thinkers discovered that the universe follows predictable natural laws and used reason and observation to understand the physical world, inspiring Enlightenment philosophy.
How did the Renaissance lead to the Enlightenment?
The Renaissance celebrated human potential and the Reformation encouraged questioning authority, which promoted individualism and new ways of thinking that eventually led to the Enlightenment focus on reason and natural laws.
What does Grade 7 history teach about the Enlightenment?
California myWorld Interactive Grade 7, Chapter 10: Absolutism and Enlightenment covers how new thinking from the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution sparked the Age of Reason.
What are natural laws in Enlightenment thinking?
Natural laws are predictable rules that govern the universe and human society, discovered by Enlightenment thinkers using reason and logic, forming the basis for ideas about human rights and government.