The 18th Century: The Age of Reason and Enlightenment

Posted on Aug 4, 2024 in Social sciences

Characteristics of the 18th Century

• Emphasis on human reason and empirical philosophy
• Belief in the unchanging nature of human nature and nature itself
• Rejection of supernatural explanations for natural phenomena
• Shift in state power from the king to Parliament and cabinet ministers
• Rise of exploration, colonization, and wealth as motivating forces in society
• Separation of economics and ethics
• Expansion of education and entertainment for the middle classes

London in the 18th Century

• Center of business, pleasure, and consumer society
• The Royal Exchange as a symbol of globalization
• The coffeehouse as a meeting place for men of culture

Britain’s Expansion and Slavery

• Expansion into an empire fueled by slavery and the slave trade
• Rising prosperity at home built on inhumanity across the seas
• Emergence of a new humanitarian ideal at the end of the 18th century

Literature in the 18th Century

• Considered a tool for the advancement of knowledge
• Emphasis on observing nature and human nature
• Rise of the novel as a distinct literary form
• Satire as a popular literary tool for educating the public