What is a defining characteristic of the Enlightenment movement?

The defining characteristic of the Enlightenment movement is the advocacy for empirical evidence and reason. This intellectual movement, which flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasized the use of reason as a means to gain knowledge and advance society. Enlightenment thinkers championed rational thought and scientific inquiry, seeking to reform society through ideas grounded in evidence rather than dogma or tradition.

During this period, philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant argued for the importance of individual rights and rational governance. Their ideas laid the foundation for modern democracy and influenced both political and scientific thought, marking a significant departure from previous reliance on superstition and unquestioning acceptance of tradition.

In contrast, the focus on faith and tradition, the rejection of all forms of government, and the promotion of superstition are not aligned with the core tenets of the Enlightenment. These aspects represent the pre-Enlightenment worldview, which the movement actively sought to challenge and transcend through rational discourse and empirical understanding.