WorldAugust 12, 2026
enlightenment
in-LITE-un-ment
Definition
A historical period and intellectual movement characterized by an emphasis on reason, individual liberty, and skepticism of traditional authority.
Etymology
Derived from the Middle English 'enlighten' plus the suffix '-ment', meaning the act of shedding light upon or bringing into a state of greater knowledge and understanding.
In the news
The article uses the term to highlight that historical technological shifts, like the printing press, have been used for both positive intellectual progress and restrictive state control.
AI Can Now Manufacture the Public That Constitutions Take for Granted
Read the full article ↗Jurist.org