A significant breakthrough during the Age of Enlightenment was the development of the scientific method and the emphasis on reason, empiricism, and skepticism towards traditional authority. Thinkers like Francis Bacon, Galileo, and Isaac Newton advanced systematic experimentation and observation, leading to major advancements in various scientific fields. Additionally, Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Voltaire promoted ideas concerning human rights, individual liberty, and separation of church and state. These concepts not only transformed scientific inquiry but also influenced political thought, paving the way for democratic revolutions and the emphasis on personal freedoms.