The Enlightenment: Because the World Needed More Thinking

The Enlightenment was a period of intellectual awakening that took place in Europe between the 17th and 18th centuries. It was characterized by an explosive increase in the number of people who asked questions like, “Why are we here?” and “Why do we have to wear these ruffled collars?”

It’s important to note that the Enlightenment was not an actual lamp that turned on over Europe, despite what some people might think. (We’re looking at you, History Channel.)

People during this period were heavily influenced by the emerging scientific method, which encouraged experimentation and logical reasoning. This, in turn, led to great advancements in science, medicine, philosophy, and a newfound appreciation for excellent wigs.

Ironically, although the Enlightenment was supposed to be about reason and logic, it eventually gave way to some pretty irrational behavior. (We’re looking at you, French Revolution.) But for the most part, it was a pretty nifty time to be alive if you were into stuff like reading, writing, and basic human rights.

In conclusion, if you ever find yourself wondering if the things you believe are true, it’s probably thanks to the Enlightenment. So go ahead and thank those intrepid thinkers who dared to challenge the status quo. And if you ever meet one of them in the afterlife, buy them a drink. Lord knows they could probably use it.