Introduction

Historical scholarship usually assigns the term Enlightenment to a period which began with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England and ended either with the 1776 Declaration of Independence by the United States, or the French Revolution of 1789. As a European reform movement, the new era witnessed a shift in values and social policy that profoundly shaped subsequent human history. Among the most prominent beliefs operative during the Enlightenment was faith in the progress and perfectibility of society with the help of science and technology. On the methodological front, the power of reason – variously interpreted as mathematical —deductive or sensualist —inductive —characterized the debates concerning human understanding.

A rejection of previous theological hierarchies and social constraints was initiated by Enlightenment thinkers under the banner of a desirable ‘ natural ’ evolution of the innate intellectual and moral tendencies of man. Finally, the condition of liberty as a right for the attainment of happiness and fulfilment was coupled with the principle of utility – greater benefits for the greatest number. Both constituted the fundamental pillars for the envisioned reconstruction of human institutions.

In health-related fields, the Enlightenment established a much more optimistic outlook concerning the role and benefits of medicine. In their quest towards progress, most contemporary thinkers believed that health was a natural state of the body which could be maintained and protected. In turn, they were confident that, eventually all diseases could be Eradicated.