noun
Enlightenment; illuminism
Refers to the 18th-century European intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism. Often used in historical or philosophical contexts.
啓蒙主義は18世紀のヨーロッパで広まった思想運動です。
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that spread in 18th-century Europe.
啓蒙 is a broader term for 'enlightenment' or 'edification', while 啓蒙主義 specifically denotes the historical philosophical movement.
Compound of 啓蒙 (けいもう, 'enlightenment') and 主義 (しゅぎ, '-ism'). 啓蒙 is a Sino-Japanese word originally meaning 'to enlighten the ignorant'.