The Age of Enlightenment and Rebellion against Authority...

The Age of Enlightenment saw many great changes in Western Europe. It was an age of reason and philosophes. During this age, changes the likes of which had not been seen since ancient times took place. Such change affected evert pore of Western European society. Many might argue that the Enlightenment really did not bring any real change, however, there exists and overwhelming amount of facts which prove, without question, that the spirit of the Enlightenment was one of change-specifically change which went against the previous teachings of the Catholic Church. Such change is apparent in the ideas, questions, and philosophies of the time, in the study of science, and throughout the monarchial system. Previously, the Catholic Church had†¦show more content†¦During the Pre-Enlightenment and Enlightenment periods, man began to question that model of the Universe. Copernicus revolutionary model of the Universe placed the Sun at the centre of the Universe. Though Copernicus ideas were only allowed to b e published as he was on his deathbed, the Church grudgingly agreed to Copernicus model of the Universe as it still placed mans solar system in the centre of the Universe. Later, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler adjusted Copernicus model so that it fit both observation and mathematics. The final Enlightened blow to the Catholic Church came when Isaac Newton proposed-and subsequently proved-that not only is out planet and the solar system not at the centre of the Universe, but that the Universe itself is a machine: it can be governed only be natural and physical laws. This presented a great change in society and proved to be a most fatal blow to the Catholic Church. For, if the U niverse is governed by natural and physical laws, how could God possible interfere with events in the Universe? This only proves that the spirit of the Enlightenment was one of changed-and, indeed, such change meant breaking away from theShow MoreRelatedModernity and Enlightenment in The Persian Letters by Charles Montesquieu938 Words   |  4 PagesModernity and Enlightenment in The Persian Letters by Charles Montesquieu The Persian Letters (1721), a fictional piece by Charles Montesquieu, is representative of ‘the Enlightenment,’ both supporting and showing conflict with its ideas. The initial perception of European people, in particular the French, is of a busy people with goals and ambition whose focus is progress; in this way they are able to gain knowledge - a core foundation to Enlightenment. One particularRead MoreRadicalism and Revolutions Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history, revolutions have started because of new ideas that change thinking and disrupt what has come to be considered normal. During 1700s, the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions were no exception. 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