This quote argues that genuine happiness for people depends entirely on knowledge, freedom, and logical thinking. It suggests that without these fundamental elements, individuals cannot achieve true contentment or well-being, highlighting their crucial role in human flourishing.
Quote by Marquis de Condorcet: “Enlightenment, liberty, and reason are the sole foundations of human happiness.”
Insight
Historical Context
Condorcet's ultimate goal was to demonstrate how the continuous progress of human reason would lead to a society founded on justice, equality, and individual freedom, which he believed were the necessary conditions for universal human happiness.
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French mathematician, philosopher, and political scientist who was a leading figure of the late Enlightenment. His Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind, written while in hiding from the Revolutionary authorities, is a landmark of progressive thought.
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