enlightenment

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noun en·light·en·ment \in-ˈlī-t^ən-mənt, en-\

: the state of having knowledge or understanding : the act of giving someone knowledge or understanding

the Enlightenment : a movement of the 18th century that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion

Buddhism : a final spiritual state marked by the absence of desire or suffering

Full Definition of ENLIGHTENMENT

1

:  the act or means of enlightening :  the state of being enlightened

2

capitalized :  a philosophic movement of the 18th century marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism —used with the

3

Buddhism :  a final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering

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Examples of ENLIGHTENMENT

1. the search for spiritual enlightenment
2. His comments failed to provide enlightenment.
3. the enlightenment of the public through education

First Known Use of ENLIGHTENMENT

1654

Other Philosophy Terms

dialectic, dualism, epistemology, existentialism, metaphysics, ontology, sequitur, solipsism, transcendentalism