Renaissance and Enlightenment: The Dawn of Modern Thought

The Renaissance: A New Worldview

Core Characteristics

• A revival of Greco-Latin classical ideals.
• Anthropocentrism: Man is placed at the center of the universe.
• A unified scientific vision of the universe, thought, and art, based on the belief that everything can be explained through reason.
• A shift from a geocentric (Earth-centered) to a heliocentric (sun-centered) worldview.
• The rise of patrons as the primary driving forces behind art and culture.
• The anonymous artist disappears, replaced by the celebrated genius with a name and reputation.
• A growing secular character that coexisted with and was integrated into the Christian worldview.
• The invention of the printing press, which encouraged the use and publication of works in vernacular languages, not just Latin.
• An emphasis on the autonomy of reason and freedom of thought.
• The birth of Humanism, where man becomes the primary subject of study and discussion.
• An exaltation of the theme of Carpe Diem (seize the day), reflecting a full confidence in human reason and potential.

Major Societal Transformations

• The consolidation of the monarch's absolute authority.
• The development of capitalism.
• The birth of nation-states, built on bureaucracy and diplomacy.
• Major religious breaks and reforms.
• The strengthening of Spain's power following the discovery of the Americas.
• The introduction of new products from the Americas to Europe.

The Scientific Revolution

• The establishment of Heliocentrism as the dominant model of the cosmos.
• The concept of an infinite universe.
• The use of mathematical laws to explain the workings of the universe.

The Enlightenment: Reason and Progress

The Principle of Optimism

Eighteenth-century thinkers believed that nature was a kind of perfect machine that functions flawlessly. This provided a reason to feel optimistic. Furthermore, they viewed history as the progressive evolution of humanity. They believed that, over the centuries, humankind was continually improving and would eventually build a perfect society—a paradise on Earth.

The Rise of Secularism

The Enlightenment represents the first truly secular culture in European history, existing outside of—and in some ways in opposition to—Christianity. This can be partly explained by the Church's rejection of the bourgeois lifestyle; priests often preached that it was easier for a person of leisure to be saved than a merchant. Christian virtues were transformed into secular ones; for instance, the concept of charity (love of one's neighbor for God's sake) was replaced by philanthropy (love of humanity for its own sake). The non-religious nature of the Enlightenment is also evident in the reading materials of the time: in the 18th century, works of philosophy and science became more prevalent than purely religious texts.