How did the Enlightenment impact Western Culture?

The Enlightenment significantly shaped Western culture by promoting reason, individualism, and scientific inquiry, challenging traditional authority and dogma. Philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire advocated for human rights, democracy, and secularism, laying the groundwork for modern political and social systems. This intellectual movement fostered advancements in education, the arts, and sciences, encouraging critical thinking and skepticism of established norms. Ultimately, the Enlightenment's emphasis on rational thought and empirical evidence continues to influence contemporary values and institutions.