Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the Enlightenment?

The characteristic that is not associated with the Enlightenment is the advocacy for absolute monarchy. The Enlightenment, which spanned the 17th and 18th centuries, was fundamentally a movement that championed reason, individual rights, and skepticism of traditional authority, including monarchies. Thinkers of the Enlightenment, such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu, argued for principles that often challenged the legitimacy of absolute power, promoting instead ideas of governance based on social contracts and the separation of powers.

In contrast, the emphasis on reason and individualism (A) was central to Enlightenment thought, leading individuals to rely on their reasoning rather than on tradition or religious authority. The promotion of scientific thought (C) was also a hallmark of this period, as Enlightenment thinkers encouraged empirical evidence and the scientific method, exemplified by figures like Isaac Newton. Moreover, the focus on human rights (D) gained traction during the Enlightenment, with philosophers advocating for liberty, equality, and justice, which laid the groundwork for future human rights movements.