The term 'Western Enlightenment' encapsulates a profound intellectual and cultural awakening that began in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a fervent embrace of reason, science, and humanism as guiding principles. It is a complex interplay of philosophical, scientific, and socio-political transformations aimed at liberating human thought from the shackles of dogma, superstition, and tyranny. While asserting that individuals possess an inherent capacity for understanding and shaping the world, this period emphasized critical inquiry, empirical evidence, and the intrinsic worth of human rights and freedoms. In this context, Western Enlightenment can be seen as both a historic epoch and a continuing ethos that underscores the potential for human progress through rational discourse, skepticism towards unfounded authority, and a collective aspiration toward ideals of justice, equality, and knowledge.

See also: western philosophy, scientific revolution, conceptual framework, dependent origination, mutual dependency