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Religious
o Questioning of Catholic beliefs and Protestantism led to tolerance for
new ideas.
Intellectual
o Free intellectual inquiry resulted from widespread opposition to
religious intolerance.
o The French revolution led to 'age of reason'.
o Educational institutions free of religious allegiance also spread.
Economic
o Industrial revolution, move away from agrarian fiefdoms led to an
increasingly wealthy, independent and educated middle class.
Political
o Nation-states emerged, ruled by kings and parliaments that only paid
lip-service to religious rule.
Parties and factions which have legitimate differences of opinion.
Hollinger's four summary claims
Everything worth knowing can be unified in a set of beliefs that all rational
people can accept.
Moral principles are rational and provide standards for conduct and
judgement.
Any contradiction to these is an obstacle to progress and happiness.
The truth will set us free.
The Philosophes
The Philosophes were a loose movement interested in all forms of knowledge. They
were quite anti-clerical and often campaigned on behalf of its victims.
They regarded knowledge based on experience as the best form of understanding.
They heroised Newton and were keen on technology and science.
They focused on legal reform, admired the British Constitution and generally
championing reason and tolerance.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/research/articles/enlightenment
.htm