enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a transformative philosophical period in European and America during the eighteenth century. Also known as the Age of Reason, the movement emphasized the supremacy of reason, empiricism, rationalism, and individualism in all areas of human life, including religion, politics, science, and the arts.

The author compares the intellectual understanding of the Enlightenment of Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and shows how the personal experiences and regional cultural traditions of each man shaped his interpretation of that movement and how those ideals played into the birth of the new nation.

Examines the history, causes, and effects on culture, society, philosophy, religion, and politics of the American and European Enlightenment.

Examines the history of the Enlightenment and its lasting impact on modern society, particularly through the works of thinkers like Hume, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant.