How Did The Period Of Enlightenment Changed The Ideas Of Early Modern Europe?

Historian, Anna Plassart (2016 p280) states that the period of Enlightenment (c 1688-1815) changed the ideas of society in the Early Modern Europe and became associated with social, cultural and political changes particularly in the areas of knowledge, religion, politics and education. Plassart argues that Enlightenment was predominately an elite intellectual phenomena with supporting contingent drawn from the developing “middle sort”, which Plassart suggests accounted for approximately one third of Europe’s population (Maza 2012 in Plassart 2016p 280). Following after the scientific revolution of the 17th century the Enlightenment movement brought transformation by challenging traditional moral and intellectual authorities such as the church and government. Enlightened thinkers adopted a form of intellectual and scientific examination based on a theory of mans’ ability to observe, reason and apply logic, that tested traditional beliefs and practices relating to the social issues of the day. (Plassart 2016p.280)

His motto for enlightenment was “Sapere Aude’ (Dare to Know) (Jones, C. in Kumin, B. 2013 p237).
Peter Wallace argues that Kant, and other like minded philosophers, initiated a progressive challenge that provided momentum amongst the ruling elite and the growing “ middling sort” to consider and initiate changing from the traditional view of leading a life based on blind faith, superstition and revelation. (Wallace 2013 p.