Age of Reason

noun

a movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine (Freq. 1)

-

the Enlightenment brought about many humanitarian reforms

• Syn: ↑Enlightenment

• Hypernyms: ↑reform movement

• Instance Hypernyms: ↑historic period, ↑age

* * *

: a period characterized by the dominance of reason and common sense; especially : the 18th century in England and France

* * *

1. any period in history, esp. the 18th century in France, England, etc., characterized by a critical approach to religious, social, and philosophical matters that seeks to repudiate beliefs or systems not based on or justifiable by reason.

2. (l.c.) the age at which a person is considered capable of distinguishing between right and wrong.

* * *

Age of Reason,

the period in Europe from the 1600's to the late 1700's in which philosophers emphasized the use of reason as the best method of learning truth. John Locke, Descartes, Diderot, Rousseau, and Voltaire were leaders.

* * *

the Age of Enlightenment [the Age of Enlightenment] (also the Age of Reason)

a period in Europe in the 18th century when many writers and ↑thinkers began to question established beliefs, e.g. in the authority of kings or of the Church, in favour of reason and scientific proof. The idea developed that everyone was of equal value and had equal rights.