What concept did the Enlightenment challenge regarding traditional authority?

The Enlightenment fundamentally challenged the notion of traditional authority by promoting the concept of individual rights. Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, argued that individuals possess inherent rights simply by being human. This marked a shift from the idea that rights were granted by the monarchy or the church. The focus on individual rights emphasized personal liberty, equality, and the importance of consent in governance, ultimately inspiring movements for democracy and social reform.

This pursuit of individual rights directly countered established structures like absolute monarchy and feudal systems, which were predicated on hierarchy and a belief in the divine right of kings. The Enlightenment thinkers sought to empower individuals by arguing that governments should exist to serve the people, reinforcing the belief that authority derived from the governed rather than from a sovereign ruler. As a result, the recognition and defense of individual rights became a foundational aspect of modern democratic thought, shaping contemporary views on freedom and human rights.