Which statement aligns with the era's view of truth?

• A. Truth is found through tradition alone
• B. Truth is found through reason rather than past authority or religion
• C. Truth is only revealed through church authority
• D. Truth is unnecessary to pursue

Answer: (B)

Reason as the path to truth is the key idea. In the Enlightenment, thinkers argued that truth comes from reason, careful argument, and empirical evidence rather than simply following tradition or church authority. Tradition can carry wisdom, but it must be tested by rational inquiry. Relying on church authority as the sole source of truth runs counter to the era’s emphasis on secular, critical inquiry and scientific understanding. Believing that truth doesn’t need to be pursued goes against the era’s commitment to progress through knowledge. So the statement that truth is found through reason rather than past authority or religion best captures how people in that period approached truth.