Two interpretations of human progress inspired two broad branches of the Enlightenment:
The Continental Enlightenment understood that problems are soluble but not that they are inevitable
The British Enlightenment understood both equally.
The Continental type was impatient for the perfected state, which led to intellectual dogmatism, political violence, and tyranny. The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror are the archetypal examples.
The British one, which was evolutionary and cognizant of human fallibility, was impatient for institutions that did not stifle gradual, continuing change.
