Enlightenment, Really?

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Enlightenment, Really?
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Encyclopedia Definition
The term also more specifically refers to an
intellectual movement, "The Enlightenment," which
is described as being the use of
to establish an
ethics, aesthetics, and knowledge. This
movement's leaders viewed themselves as a
courageous, body of intellectuals who
were the world toward
, out of a
long period of irrationality, superstition, and
tyranny which began during a historical period
they called the "Dark Ages"
Rationality
authoritative
elite
leading
progress
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Another Standard Perspective

• The Enlightenment began from the belief in a
  rational, orderly and comprehensible universe -
  and proceeded, in stages, to demand a rational
  and orderly organization of knowledge and the
  state.
• This again shows a) our need for organization and
  order and b) our arrogant assumption that we can
  comprehend nature

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Yada Yada

• This began from the assertion that law governed
  both heavenly and human affairs, and that law
  gave the king his power, rather than the king's
  power giving force to law.
• The conception of law as a relationship between
  individuals gave increasing focus on individual
  liberty as a fundamental reality, given by
  "Nature and Nature's God.
• It is likely impossible to simultaneously
  maximize individual liberty and equality for all.

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YADA

• The Enlightenment created the ideas, of liberty,
  property and rationality which are still
  recognizable as the basis for most political
  philosophy even to the present era
• that is, of a free individual being most free
  within the context of a state which provides the
  stability of Law and Order.
• But, we will still maintain our practice of
  public executions as a reflection of our
  Enlightenment

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Manifestations of Enlightenment

• Historians argue that this movement produced a
  framework for the American and French revolutions
  as well as the rise of capitalism and socialism.
• Really?

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Kant versus Locke

• Enlightenment is man's leaving his self-caused
  immaturity. Immaturity is the incapacity to use
  one's own understanding without the guidance of
  another. Such immaturity is self-caused if its
  cause is not lack of intelligence, but by lack of
  determination and courage to use one's
  intelligence without being guided by another. The
  motto of enlightenment is therefore Sapere aude!
  Have courage to use your own intelligence!

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Locke

• Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the
  only motives to a rational creature these are
  the spur and reins whereby all mankind are set on
  work, and guided.
• The actions of men are the best interpreters of
  their thoughts