What does the term "Enlightenment" refer to?

The term "Enlightenment" refers to an intellectual movement that emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Philosophers and thinkers during this period advocated for the use of reason as the primary source of knowledge and challenged existing doctrines, particularly in areas such as politics, ethics, and society.

This movement laid the groundwork for modern democratic thinking and contributed to significant advancements in various fields, including science, philosophy, and political theory. Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were prominent figures who influenced concepts of human rights, liberty, and the social contract, highlighting the importance of individual thought and empirical evidence over tradition and superstition.

The other options do not accurately encapsulate the essence of the Enlightenment; rather, they either focus on monarchic systems, suggest cultural decay, or emphasize fidelity to tradition and authority, which contradicts the movement’s core principles of rational inquiry and personal freedom.