The primary focus of Enlightenment philosophers was to promote reason, individualism, and rational thought as the foundations for understanding human existence and governance. Emerging in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, the Enlightenment challenged traditional authority, including monarchy and the Church. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau advocated for natural rights, social contracts, and the separation of powers in governance. Their ideas emphasized progress, education, and religious tolerance, shaping modern concepts of democracy and human rights. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual groundwork for revolutions and reform movements that sought to create more equitable societies based on rational principles.