Question

What role did the Scientific Revolution play in bringing about the Enlightenment? (5 points)

Answer 1

The Scientific Revolution questioned superstition and traditional beliefs that had not been investigated.  The Enlightenment championed this approach to knowledge, emphasizing the use of reason in all matters, in contrast to following superstition or unquestioningly accepting traditional beliefs.  

The Scientific Revolution showed that there are natural laws in place in the physical world and in the universe at large.  Applying similar principles to matters like government and society, Enlightenment thinkers believed that using reason will guide us to the best ways to operate politically so we can create the most beneficial conditions for society.  For many Enlightenment thinkers, this included a conviction that all human beings have certain natural rights which are to be protected and preserved.    This led to changes of approach to how society should be governed -- moving away from ideas like the "divine right of kings" to the establishment of more democratic, constitutional societies.

Answer 2

To correctly understand the phenomenom of the Enlightenment we must resort to its fundamentals sources of inspiration.

- The philosophy of Descartes - " Based on methodical doubt to admit only clear and obvious trhuts".

- And the scientific revolution. Supported by simple general laws of a physical nature.

The enlightened thought that these laws could be discovered by the Cartesian method and applied universally to the government and human societies.

That is why the elite of this era felt a great desire to learn and to teach what they had learned.