1. Enlightenment in Germany (Immanuel Kant)
In general the Enlightenment in Germany was not as hostile in its attitude towards Christianity as it was in France. Indeed, people also try to attack the basics of faith based on revelation, and replace it with religion based on feelings that are pantheistic, but all of that goes without open "war".
Central to attention in Germany is ethics. People aspire to change the teachings of decency based on revelation into a decency based on general good, which clearly shows concern for feelings. From the very beginning philosophical thought was influenced by spiritual movements in England and in France. That resulted in German philosophy not standing alone.
The pioneers included Samuel Pufendorff (1632-1694), Christian Thomasius (1655-1728). But the real leader in philosophy is Christian Wolff (1679-1754). 5 He strives for philosophy to become a sure and useful science, by striving for clear understandings with strong evidence. Very important to him was the arrangement of philosophical systems that were didactic, clear ideas and decisive decipherment. It was he who created philosophical terms in German and made the language compatible with scientific thought. Because of his work philosophy attracted public attention.
2. Enlightenment in England
n England the philosophy of the Enlightenment was advanced by thinkers of various faiths. Most experts think that one person is freer than the others, except of course some main schools.
One of the symptoms of Enlightenment in England is what is called Deism, a school of philosophy in English in the 18th century, which combines with Eduard Herbert's ideas which can be called the foundation of natural religious teachings.
According to Herbert, reason has absolute autonomy in the field of religion. Also Christianity was conquered by reason. On the basis of this opinion he opposes all beliefs based on revelation.
3. Enlightenment in France
In the 18th century philosophy in France drew its ideas from England. The pioneers of philosophy in France themselves (Descartes, etc.) were forgotten and no longer appreciated. Now their teachers were Locke and Newton.
Regarding the soul it is said, that we have no idea about the soul (the influence of Locke). What we observe is only psychological symptoms. Our knowledge does not come to the existence of a substance of the soul that stands alone. Because religion is seen as limited to some moral decree, it opposes all dogma, and opposes religion.
In France in this enlightenment era there was also Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), who had provided a systematic closure to the ideals of enlightenment in France. Actually he opposed the Enlightenment, which, according to him, spread the arts and science in general, without good judgment, by overly believing in the renewal of humanity through knowledge and civilization. Actually Rousseau was a philosopher who emphasized not reason, but feelings and subjectivity. But in servitude to those feelings his sharp wits were used.
