The Enlightenment in Europe was
A) a uniform philosophical movement directed by the Royal Society.
B) derived from Aristotelian scientific thought.
C) the study of alchemy to make light on demand.
D) a blending of intellectual schools of thought from many diverse areas with the idea of improving the human condition.
E) based in Chinese and Amerindian naturalism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Enlightenment was a movement that brought together a diverse array of intellectual schools of thought from across Europe with the goal of improving the human condition through reason and knowledge. It was not a uniform movement directed by any one organization, nor was it based in Chinese or Amerindian naturalism. Alchemy was a precursor to modern chemistry but was not a major focus of the Enlightenment, and while some Enlightenment thinkers, such as Francis Bacon, drew inspiration from Aristotelian thought, the movement as a whole moved away from reliance on ancient authorities.

The Enlightenment in Europe Was