Enlightened thinkers believed society was governed by

Enlightened thinkers believed society was governed by

• A. religion
• B. a social contract
• C. scientific inquiry
• D. political philosophers

Answer: (C)

Enlightenment thinkers stressed using reason and observation to understand how society works, applying the same investigative mindset of science to politics, education, and social reform. They believed progress comes from questioning assumptions, gathering evidence, and developing laws or principles about human behavior that can improve governance. So, governing a society through scientific inquiry best captures their approach: treat social questions as open to rational investigation and empirical study, rather than relying on religious authority or tradition. Religious authority was challenged as the basis for ruling, and while social contract theory and political philosophers were central to their thought, those ideas describe theories and actors rather than the method by which society should be governed.

Enlightenment thinkers stressed using reason and observation to understand how society works, applying the same investigative mindset of science to politics, education, and social reform. They believed progress comes from questioning assumptions, gathering evidence, and developing laws or principles about human behavior that can improve governance. So, governing a society through scientific inquiry best captures their approach: treat social questions as open to rational investigation and empirical study, rather than relying on religious authority or tradition.

Religious authority was challenged as the basis for ruling, and while social contract theory and political philosophers were central to their thought, those ideas describe theories and actors rather than the method by which society should be governed.