What was a primary focus of the European Enlightenment?

The primary focus of the European Enlightenment was on open-mindedness and inquiry into human affairs. This intellectual movement, which emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasized reason, science, and individualism over tradition and religious authority. Thinkers of the Enlightenment, such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant, advocated for the use of reason as a means to social and political progress, encouraging people to question established norms and beliefs.

This period marked a shift away from accepting ideas based solely on tradition or religious doctrine, aiming instead to explore human rights, ethics, governance, and knowledge through critical thought and empirical evidence. The Enlightenment laid the groundwork for modern democracy, human rights, and various social sciences by promoting the idea that human beings could improve their condition through rational thought and collective inquiry.