Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Subject Area Practice Test

Which intellectual movement during the colonization of North America influenced the founding of modern science?

1. Romanticism

2. The Enlightenment

3. Renaissance

4. Realism

The correct answer is: The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a pivotal intellectual movement that significantly influenced the foundations of modern science during the period of colonization in North America. It emphasized reason, individualism, and empirical evidence, encouraging thinkers to challenge traditional authority and rely on observation and experimentation. Major figures of this movement, such as John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire, advocated for scientific inquiry and the application of rational thought to understand natural phenomena and improve society. The principles established during the Enlightenment laid the groundwork for the scientific method, a systematic approach to research that remains fundamental to scientific exploration today. This shift towards valuing reason and empirical evidence over superstition and dogma represented a major departure from previous ways of thinking. Other intellectual movements, such as Romanticism and Realism, focused on different themes and aspects of human experience, and while the Renaissance contributed to the revival of classical knowledge and arts, it preceded the Enlightenment and did not directly inspire the same advancements in scientific thought. Thus, the Enlightenment occupies a unique and critical role in shaping the development of modern science.