The enlightenment was intellectual movement originating in France, which attracted widespread support among the ruling and intellectual classes of Europe and North America in the second half of the 18th century. It characterizes the efforts by certain European writers to use critical reason to free minds from prejudice, unexamined authority and oppression by church or state. This paper states the freedom, equality and rationality which are advocated in the Enlightenment. There were many philosophers in the 18th century, especially Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau and Diderot. The author states their ideas in the second part of this paper. The last part of this paper is to stress the influence of the movement upon the culture and ideas for human, and it also emphasizes the influence of the movement upon the independence of American, the revolution of France and Asia.
Abstract ....................................................................I
Key Words ...................................................................I
摘 要 ......................................................................II
关键词...................................................................... II
Introduction ................................................................1
I Background ...............................................................2
A. Historical Background for France in 18th Century .........................2
B. The Enlightenment in the 18th Century.....................................3
II The Most Important Figures of the Enlightenment and Their Influence ......4
III The Influence of the Enlightenment...................................... 6
A. Influence upon the France in 18th Century and Upon the Future for France .6
1. From Culture............................................................. 6
2. From Idea................................................................ 7
B. Influence upon the other European Countries even the Whole World..........10
1. American..................................................................10
2. British ..................................................................11
3. Asia ---Japan and China ..................................................12
Conclusion ..................................................................14
Acknowledgements ............................................................15
Bibliography ................................................................16
