Enlightenment Study Guide From Norton Anthology, Vol. D, pages 91-99

Ancients vs Modern

Debate between those who favored old ideas and those who embraced new individualism and exploration.

Individual Autonomy

Emphasis on the importance of personal independence and freedom.

Reason as Guide

Both ancient and modern thinkers relied on reason as a reliable source of guidance.

Power of Reason

Belief that enlightenment comes from human reasoning rather than divine intervention.

Deists

Thinkers like Isaac Newton who viewed the universe as rational and orderly, attributing evil to the lack of divine interference.

Enlightenment Paradox

The conflict between steering with reason while facing the omnipresence of irrational passions.

Shift in Truth Model

Enlightenment thinkers transitioned from divine revelation to human knowledge sources like science, statistics, and literature.

Political Instability

Period marked by revolutions, civil wars, and political unrest.

Literary Reflections

Works by Aphra Behn, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Moliere, Jonathan Swift, and Voltaire addressing ethical dilemmas, women's rights, religious hypocrisy, and moral behavior.

Literary Conventions

18th-century writers used agreed-upon forms to navigate and critique society, particularly through satire criticizing vice and folly.