Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

Romanticism is viewed as a challenge to Enlightenment thought primarily because it emphasized emotion as a source of truth. The Enlightenment was characterized by a strong belief in reason, rationality, and empirical evidence as the primary means to attain knowledge and understanding of the world. In stark contrast, Romanticism celebrated the depth of human emotion and intuition, suggesting that these feelings could reveal deeper truths about the human experience and the natural world. Romantics believed that emotion and individual experience were essential to understanding life, art, and nature, often portraying the sublime and the transcendent as central themes. They found inspiration in nature, personal feelings, and the imagination, which they prioritized over the analytical thought that defined the Enlightenment. This shift represented a significant philosophical and cultural departure from the ideals of rationalism and scientific progress that were predominant during the Enlightenment period. Thus, the emphasis on emotion in Romanticism directly challenges the rational foundations laid by Enlightenment thinkers, illustrating a fundamental shift in the approach to knowledge and understanding of humanity.