Western Enlightenment is a 18th century cultural, philosophical and scientific movement that grew out of the European Age of Reason. It was marked by the view that rationality was the primary source of authority and that natural laws would help understand and organize the world. This resulted in a focus on individual autonomy and liberty, examination of fundamental concepts like religion and freedom of thought, and an advocacy for the advancement of science and the pursuit of knowledge. Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional ideas about government and society, and sought to replace authoritarianism and superstition with reason and knowledge.

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