Age of Reason: This term is often used interchangeably with 'The Enlightenment'. It refers to the time period where cultural and intellectual forces emphasized reason, analysis, and individualism over traditional systems.
Philosophes: These were public intellectuals during the Age of Reason who applied reason to the study of many areas of learning including philosophy, history, science, politics, economics and social issues.
Secularism: A principle that involves two basic propositions; first is the strict separation of institutions such as Church (religion) from governmental or state institutions (politics), and second is that people should be free from religious rule and teachings.