Scientific thinking drove the Enlightenment from "summary" of The Story of Mankind, Original Edition (Yesterday's Classics) by Hendrik Willem Van Loon
The Enlightenment was a period of intellectual and cultural growth that took place in Europe during the 18th century. It was a time when people began to question traditional beliefs and values, and instead turned to reason and scientific thinking to understand the world around them. This shift in thinking was driven by a number of factors, including the rise of modern science and the spread of new ideas through books and newspapers. One of the key ideas of the Enlightenment was the belief in the power of reason. People began to question long-held superstitions and instead sought to understand the world through observation and experimentation. This led to a renewed interest in science and the natural world, as people sought to uncover the laws that governed the universe. Scientific thinking played a crucial role in driving the Enlightenment forward. The scientific method, which involves making observations, forming hypotheses, and conducting experiments to test those hypotheses, became a powerful tool for understanding the world. By applying this method to a wide range of subjects, from physics to biology to economics, thinkers of the Enlightenment were able to make significant advances in their understanding of the world. One of the most famous figures of the Enlightenment was Sir Isaac Newton, whose work in physics laid the foundation for modern science. Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation helped to explain the movements of the planets and the behavior of objects on Earth. His work was a powerful example of the success that could be achieved through scientific thinking. The spread of new ideas during the Enlightenment was also facilitated by advances in communication. The invention of the printing press made it easier for books and newspapers to be produced and distributed, allowing new ideas to spread quickly across Europe. This led to a more interconnected and informed society, where people could learn about the latest scientific discoveries and philosophical debates.- The Enlightenment was a period of great intellectual and cultural change, driven in large part by the rise of scientific thinking. By emphasizing reason and observation over tradition and superstition, thinkers of the Enlightenment were able to make significant advances in their understanding of the world. This shift in thinking laid the foundation for many of the scientific and technological advances that would follow in the centuries to come.
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