Enlightenment
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, a scientific revolution occurred which gave humankind a much better understanding of the universe and its functioning than ever before. One of those scientists was Isaac Newton, who, in addition to his work with gravitational laws, also developed principles of light and refraction. From this revolution in science came an intellectual and cultural movement who's name came from a metaphor based in Newton's experiments with light. Called the "Enlightenment," this movement worshipped the practical and marveled in the applied, and changed not only Europe, but the entire world. The Enlightenment took principles learned through scientific observation and study, and applied them to everyday life including such things as medicine, politics, nature, religion, literature, and others. The application of these principles in the real world gave rise to the modern world and its notions of democracy, economics, religion, international affairs, and almost every other aspect of modern life.
The term "Enlightenment" refered to the illumination of the mind through knowledge and understanding. In this metaphor, ignorance equated with darkness while knowledge and understanding are compared to light. When the darkness is removed by the light, one can see and understand more about the universe that surrounds them. Light is what removes the darkness and allows...
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