The scientific discovery that significantly influenced the Age of Enlightenment was the formulation of the scientific method, championed by figures such as Francis Bacon and René Descartes. This approach emphasized empirical evidence, experimentation, and rational thought as means to acquire knowledge, marking a departure from reliance on tradition and authority. The scientific method laid the groundwork for advancements in various fields, including physics, biology, and chemistry, promoting critical thinking and challenging established doctrines. These changes reshaped philosophical thought, encouraging ideas about liberty, reason, and progress, ultimately fueling intellectual movements that laid the foundations for modern science and sociology.