to grok enlightenment values

People talk about enlightenment values, but what exactly does that involve?

1. Reason - Emphasis on rationality and logic over tradition, superstition, or religious dogma.

2. Individual Liberty - Advocacy for personal freedoms, such as freedom of thought, speech, and religion.

3. Empiricism - Reliance on observation, experimentation, and evidence as the foundation of knowledge.

4. Secularism - Separation of church and state, and focus on human-centered rather than divine governance.

5. Equality - The belief in the inherent equality of all humans, challenging entrenched social hierarchies and privileges.

6. Democracy - Support for governance based on consent of the governed and the idea of popular sovereignty.

7. Progress - Optimism about humanity’s ability to improve society through science, education, and reform.

8. Skepticism - Questioning traditional authorities, including monarchy and the church, and valuing critical inquiry.

9. Tolerance - Advocacy for religious and cultural tolerance, opposing persecution and fanaticism.

10. Education - Emphasis on universal education as a means of enlightenment and self-improvement.

11. Social Contract - The concept that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed (e.g., Locke, Rousseau).

12. Human Rights - Recognition of certain inalienable rights that should be protected for all individuals.

These ideas were radical departures from the predominantly feudal, religious, and monarchic systems of the time.