The Enlightenment: Philosophy Par Excellence?

Western thought will begin to shift towards universal laws and individual rights with the advent of the Enlightenment. As we unpack that idea, we'll address the following questions:

1. In what way was the notion of progress emphasized in the Enlightenment?
2. Why did Enlightenment thinkers begin to see all human beings as fundamentally the same?
3. How did the Enlightenment lead to the notion that the purpose of society is the preservation of individual dignity?