What philosophical movement is associated with the idea that human reason can solve humanity's problems?

The Enlightenment is the philosophical movement linked to the belief that human reason is capable of solving humanity's problems. This era, which spanned primarily through the 17th to the 19th centuries, emphasized rational thought, scientific inquiry, and the pursuit of knowledge. Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant, championed the idea that through reason and empirical evidence, individuals could understand and improve the world around them.

This movement fostered advancements in various fields, including politics, science, and ethics, advocating for concepts like individual rights, democracy, and the scientific method. The emphasis on rationality and skepticism of traditional authority led to significant developments in society and governance, inspiring revolutions and reforms across the globe.

While the Renaissance focused on the revival of classical learning and arts, romanticism emphasized emotion and individualism as a counter to Enlightenment rationalism. Existentialism, on the other hand, deals more with individual meaning and the human experience in an often indifferent universe, which diverges from the Enlightenment's focus on rational problem-solving. Thus, the association of reason as a tool for addressing human issues is distinctly characteristic of the Enlightenment.