1. Origins Beyond Academia: A Diverse Intellectual Landscape

The Enlightenment is generally considered to have begun post-1670 in the Netherlands, post-1715 in France, or as far back as 1600 in England. It was not primarily an academic endeavor confined to universities, where figures like Kant were engaged in creating systematic knowledge. Voltaire, for instance, humorously critiques German metaphysics through his character Pangloss in Candide. The leading French Enlightenment figures were not university scholars; they were often educated by Jesuits but did not produce systematic treatises. Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws, while appearing systematic, is a complex work that defies simple categorization.

2. A Tapestry of Ideas: Eclecticism Over Systematization

Kant’s call to "dare to know" has roots in Diderot’s writings on eclecticism, emphasizing a philosopher’s right to think independently, free from the constraints of tradition and authority. This ethos stands in stark contrast to the contemporary academic approach, where status and metrics often take precedence over genuine inquiry. The Enlightenment thinkers, including Diderot, prioritized individual intellect over institutional approval, seeking knowledge derived from personal experience and reason.

3. Embracing Vitality: Anti-Systems and Creative Energy

Today’s philosophy students often draw from 19th and 20th-century German thinkers, associating Kant and Hegel with the Enlightenment. However, this viewpoint neglects the vibrancy and spirit found in the works of Voltaire and Diderot. Diderot critiques rigid systems in his Encyclopedia, warning that such frameworks can obscure truth and perpetuate conflict. In contrast, thinkers like Ernst Cassirer highlight a more nuanced understanding of reason during the Enlightenment, viewing it as an active force guiding the pursuit of truth.

4. Emphasizing Experience: The Experimental Approach

The intellectual currents shaping the Enlightenment were heavily influenced by English empiricists like Bacon and Locke, who promoted experimental philosophy. Contrary to the portrayal of rationalists as joyless, these figures encouraged an engagement with the world that welcomed the unexpected. For Enlightenment thinkers, the pursuit of knowledge involved recognizing the limitations of human understanding and cultivating a mindset open to new experiences.

5. The Philosophers as Cultural Critics

During the Enlightenment, the term "philosophy" began to shift in meaning. While traditional philosophy remained within university confines, thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Diderot emerged as critics of institutional conservatism. They combined philosophical inquiry with literary expression, as seen in Montesquieu's Persian Letters, which address a multitude of social issues. By the mid-18th century, the concept of a "philosopher" evolved into one who actively engages with society rather than merely theorizing in solitude.

6. Literature as Philosophy: A Distinctive Expression

The Enlightenment is often simplistically labeled as the "age of reason," a characterization that can misrepresent its complexities. The key figures of this period communicated their ideas through diverse literary forms—letters, fictions, satires, and more—aiming to reach a broader audience beyond academia. They understood that engaging stories and character-driven narratives could inspire social change more effectively than dry academic arguments.

The notion that French Enlightenment thinkers were solely serious social engineers is a misconception. In reality, works like Candide and Persian Letters reveal a rich literary tradition filled with humor and insight, noted for its remarkable wit and depth.

Matt Sharpe, editor of Castalian Stream and author of *The Other Enlightenment* (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023), explores these themes in greater detail.