Which statement best captures a major aim of Enlightenment thinkers?

• A. Establishing an equitable basis for distributing property and wealth
• B. Creating a science of society capable of explaining the human condition
• C. Removing obstacles to direct democracy
• D. Devising a broadly acceptable synthesis of secular and religious thought

Answer: (B)

Enlightenment thinkers aimed to understand human life and social organization through reason and evidence, treating society as something that can be studied like a natural system. The best choice captures this by describing the effort to create a science of society capable of explaining the human condition, using observation, logic, and critique of traditional authorities to uncover how people live together, govern, and organize themselves. While economic reform, expanding certain democratic models, or reconciling secular and religious thought were part of the era’s discussions, the defining aim was to apply rational inquiry to explain and improve how society works.