The Ongoing Legacy of the Enlightenment

Paper Summary:

The paper is based on an article about the results of "Newtonianism", and includes two other brief references to show the decline of Roman Catholic authority and the rise of secular science and reason. The paper examines how this occurred mainly in northern and central Europe, ending the medieval period's combined power of church and state .The paper explains which elements have been carried on to the present, asking a final question of how much of western culture is not a result of the Enlightenment.

From the Paper:

"Scientific and intellectual developments of the 17th century in Europe made for great popular faith in human reason that came to influence, strongly, ideas and activities in the next two centuries. By separating science from the absolute authority of religion that had dominated much of European society, for centuries, all phenomena came to be discussed according to objective, scientific models. Through the medieval period that gave way to the Enlightenment, a very paternal attitude had been taken in which free thinking was seen as dangerous by the Church that had great influence over all social life, and also, political life."

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