What movement in the 18th century emphasized the use of reason and scientific inquiry?

The movement that emphasized the use of reason and scientific inquiry in the 18th century is the Enlightenment. This intellectual and philosophical movement laid the groundwork for modern science, political theory, and ethics by advocating for reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. During the Enlightenment, thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant challenged traditional beliefs and proposed ideas centered around individualism, liberty, and the social contract, highlighting the importance of an empirical approach to understanding both the natural world and human behavior.

While the Renaissance contributed significantly to the revival of classical thought and laid the groundwork for subsequent movements, its focus was more on art, literature, and the rediscovery of classical antiquity rather than explicitly emphasizing reason and scientific inquiry. Romanticism, which emerged later in the 18th century and into the 19th century, centered on emotion, nature, and individualism as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. The Industrial Revolution, while a significant period of technological advancement and economic change, occurred partly as a result of Enlightenment ideas but is not a philosophical movement in itself. Thus, the Enlightenment stands out as the correct answer, as it was integral to the promotion of reason and scientific thought during the