The years between 1650 and 1750, in which European thinkers exhibited rational thought and optimism in human development, has been named two different ways. What are they?

The intellectual and cultural movement that swept across Europe from the mid-17th to the late 18th century is known by two closely related names. The term "Age of Reason" directly reflects the period's central philosophy: that logic, scientific inquiry, and rational thought were the most reliable tools for understanding the universe and improving the human condition. Thinkers of this era turned away from unquestioning faith and tradition, instead championing the power of the human mind to solve problems.

The name "Age of Enlightenment" uses a powerful metaphor, suggesting that this new focus on reason was like a light being switched on, illuminating subjects that had long been kept in the darkness of superstition and ignorance. This intellectual shift grew directly from the Scientific Revolution, which had demonstrated that the physical world followed predictable, rational laws. Philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu sought to apply that same logical approach to society, government, and individual rights.

These thinkers questioned the divine right of kings and argued for radical new concepts like natural rights, freedom of speech, and government by the consent of the governed. The impact of these ideas was world-changing, directly inspiring the American and French Revolutions. The foundational documents of many modern democracies are deeply rooted in the principles developed during this transformative period, making both "Reason" and "Enlightenment" fitting descriptions for the era.