历史小径·世界史英语30篇（4）

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启蒙运动：理性高于传统

In the 17th and 18th centuries, thinkers across Europe began questioning old authorities using observation and logic.
Philosophers like John Locke argued that governments exist only with the consent of the governed.
Voltaire criticized religious intolerance and defended freedom of speech, even for ideas he disliked.
Scientific methods inspired social thinkers to test ideas about justice, education, and economics.
Encyclopedias collected and organized human knowledge, making it available beyond elite universities.
Women hosted salons where writers, scientists, and artists debated ideas openly and critically.
Enlightenment ideals directly influenced revolutionary documents like the American Declaration of Independence.
Its legacy remains visible in modern schools, courts, and public debates about rights and evidence.