I was in a lecture at the University of Prague (Charles University)-Hussite theological faculty, SPU rgt on the Enlightenment is still here. I was silent, something that usually falls me away and said I'd think about it. And here is the answer. (Thanks to Pavel Miladóv for this question.)
Enlightenment is based on a combination of rationalism and empiricism. Rationalists makes sense as a basis for the perception of the world, while empirister believes it is experiences and perceptions are the starting point. Enlightenment believed that human beings are born with a fundamental sense, as it is used together with his experience. Another main features of the Enlightenment is that all certain knowledge, the wisdom or experience as the source. Any claim must be justified logically or empirically, since man is a rational creature and thus able to reason and argue their own views and respecting others. They believed also in the free and independent man. Human reason played a major role in the Enlightenment. In particular it disappeared some superstitions (for example, witch trials).
One can also say that enlightenment is a reaction to the Baroque monarchy and the church's pomp and circumstance. On the whole, rooted in the Enlightenment a lot of the earlier periods. Renaissance focus on the individual and rationalism. It continues the Renaissance crumbling from the medieval mindset. Even the modern breakthrough recalled the Enlightenment. Some writers, notably Georg Brandes, believed that the modern breakthrough was the Enlightenment resurgence.
Enlightenment philosophers believed that all people are born equal, because everyone has an innate sense. This sense, we need to judge what is good and evil, right and wrong. In this way, they believed man would do well in society. Human reason could be affected by bad parenting or bad habits.
Enlightenment philosophers very positive man-it was good, sensible and responsible. They also looked very positive about the future. Leibniz [1] believed that man could make himself lord over nature, and thereby make the world a good place.
Enlightenment began in England, and then continued to France and continue from there. It formed the conceptual framework for the north American states, and was also the basis for the American Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, and the French Revolution ideals (all are born equal and have equal rights, regardless of background or social position).
Enlightenment religion also took up for discussion. It criticized the church's abuse of power and believed that human reason would be the highest authority. It does not mean that they did not recognize God, but recognizes more Deism-say belief in a God who does not intervene, after having created the world. Deism is called natural religion, as it can be understood through reason.
Another reason for starting to lose faith in the church is that there are new explanations of natural phenomena. Scientists made great progress during the Enlightenment, and this inspired future writers and philosophers. Enlightenment's most famous scientists Newton (1643-1727) and Decartes (-1650).
Enlightenment also had great influence on society. Formed agrarian reforms and in 1788 repealed adscription. During the Enlightenment aristocracy lost many of its privileges. He'll be in debt and had to sell off its estates. Therefore, land ownership is now a matter of fortune, and no fine titles. In this way, which created significant class differences. Living standards were low and conditions are strongly influenced by the recession. Due to this recession took the king loans from commercial bourgeoisie, and thus got themselves influence. This was the first time citizenship had an influence on Denmark's economic and social situation. The general public were more educated, when he began to get public newspapers, magazines and corporations. However, if there was a censorship. All manuscripts should be approved by a professor or king people. People begin to rebel against censorship, therefore repealed Struensee [2] in the 1770th
It was hard to be a writer during the Enlightenment. Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) for example, was forced to teach at the university, and PA Heiberg [3] was banished. But the language itself evolved greatly in the 1700s. The authors began to write travel stories, which informed people about the colonization of the foreign world. Especially Daniel Defoe's [4]: Robinson Crusoe, was very well known, and still is today. At home in Denmark was the most Ludvig Holberg informing the people through his comedy. He wanted to educate people and get them to think for themselves.
Enlightenment has been influential in the society we live in today. There is still agrees that humans can be educated to their senses. Every time a teenager makes trouble, go immediately started to discuss whether the person has now been brought up properly.
Human rights is also still a part of our community. This was especially made clear when in 1948 made the declaration on human rights. It is very similar to the declaration of human and citizen's rights being drafted in 1789. Both statements about each individual's right to freedom of religion, freedom of expression and right to participate in legislation. The right to participate in the legislation include the reason for our democracy today.
Our society today is too built up, through Montesquieu's division of power from the 1748th It consists of the Legislative-(parliament), executive (government) and judicial power. (Courts). Why Montesquieu made this division of power was to protect the people. He would not have the various powers rottede together for their own benefit. Due to this division will all be treated fairly.
Reforms are also something we know from the Enlightenment. Already at the beginning of the 1700s and until 1840 there were reforms in various fields-for example, agriculture, schools and the poor. It was quite exceptional that the State took care of the weaker ones, which we still do today. We advocate and support the students with SU, the unemployed with unemployment benefits and the poor with welfare.
Comparing Denmark and other countries that have experienced the Enlightenment to the East, for example, one can clearly feel that we are influenced by this. In the East they are still very driven by their religion. They do not have democracy, and people do not have the same rights as we have here at home. This seems many are foolish, and believe that people must feel oppressed and have a bad life. But you can then discuss whether they think the same as us. They probably think that we have a bad life, because we have so many assaults, high taxes and many other things that they do not know about their culture. Denmark had not experienced the Enlightenment, we would probably live under the same conditions as they do in many eastern countries.
Without enlightenment, we would not be the same community. We would not be equally educated and do not have as much thought for our fellow man. We would also scales higher God, and may still be subject to the church's power. But perhaps we have it already, since we still pay church tax, without really show up other than that involving ourselves as individuals? Maybe the church has still taken us. Enlightenment has its roots buried deep in the Danish society.
[1] Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (July 1, 1646 - November 14, 1716), German philosopher, mathematician and political adviser.
[2] Johann Friedrich Struensee born in Halle, Germany in 1737 and died in 1772. Christian 7th life doctor.
[3] PA Heiberg. Author, playwright, translator. 1799 exiled for his writings revolutionary tendencies.
[4] Daniel Defoe born 1660, died 1731. Was English writer, best known for his novel Robinson Crusoe.
