The history of Western civilization cannot be neatly divided into precise linear sections. It must instead be seen as a series of developing threads that combine, interact and, at various intervals, undergo pervasive change. The Enlightenment of the 18th century was one of these paradigmatic historical shifts, challenging traditional notions of authority by investing reason with the power to change the human condition for the better. This ecumenical emphasis on reason and independent thought has led to an explosion of change and development in science, philosophy, religion, and politics. The subsequent ideologies that would shape the socioeconomic landscape of the next two centuries were themselves shaped by the threads of Enlightenment thought. These threads did not end abruptly, as some might suppose, with the French Revolution, but they can still be seen in various modes of thought today. The importance that the Enlightenment placed on reason was most evident in the spheres of science and philosophy. Although this period saw a rapid increase in scientific knowledge, the general idea behind the discoveries was that man could realize his full potential and progress towards perfection through the application of reason. Descartes' epistemological foundationalism encouraged skeptical analysis to arrive at indubitable truth and set the tone for the new metaphysics that emerged alongside a vigorous interest in “natural philosophy” and the inductive study of the physical realm. At the same time, however, there was an intense philosophical discussion about the nature of the material world under study. Some, like David Hume, believed that we have no way of knowing whether our perceptions and the external world actually constitute the modern mind. Cedarville, Ohio. Clauson, M. (2010, February). The PowerPoint of the 19th century. Creation of the modern mind. Cedarville, Ohio.Enlightenment. (2010). In the Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/188441/EnlightenmentGonzalez, J.L. (2007). The history of Christianity. Peabody, Massachusetts: Prince Press. European History. (2010). In the Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/195896/history-of-EuropeLawhead, W.F. (2002). The Voyage of Discovery: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.Mills, D., Clauson, M., Chamberlain, T., & Mortensen, J. (2010, January). Class notes. Creation of the modern mind. Cedarville, Ohio.