The Enlightenment: Context, Philosophy, and Critical Thinking
The Enlightenment: Context and Philosophy
Chronology, Extension, and Social Base
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, spanned the entire eighteenth century, with key dates being 1688 (the Glorious Revolution) and 1789 (the French Revolution). This new world vision transcended borders, influencing Germany (Kant, Hume, Rousseau) and extending to Spain and Russia. The bourgeoisie, an economically rising class, played a crucial role. Their political power was, however, hampered by feudal privileges.
Roots of the Enlightenment
The roots of the Enlightenment lie in humanist philosophy and theories of society, combined with rationalist and empiricist systems. Enlightenment thinkers believed that humans should organize themselves based on reality, without reference to external entities. They championed human liberation through reason, as seen in Kant’s work, which emphasizes the ability of human intelligence, rejection of mentorship, and autonomous action. Autonomous reason is the guiding light for understanding and organizing reality collectively. Enlightenment education aimed to foster progress.
Philosophy of the Enlightenment
The Enlightenment’s philosophy permeated cultural spheres, influencing society through literary groups and private gatherings of the new middle class. These groups discussed profound subjects, contrasting views and established doctrines. Ideas spread through society, influencing politics. Women played a significant role in these discussions. The focus was not on metaphysics, epistemology, logic, or theology, but on the form of treatment. British empiricism influenced the Enlightenment, rejecting metaphysics and rational ethics. Reason and rationalism illuminated all matters of analysis, as Cassirer noted.
The Enlightenment’s Critical Thinking
The Enlightenment challenged previous forms of organization in the world and life itself. This challenge manifested against:
- Metaphysics that centered on God.
- The conception of humans as dependent on theological appetites, guided by God, with natural needs and social life being subservient.
- Science and moral force that prevented the development of natural human capabilities.
- A conception of absolute knowledge, replaced by skepticism and a focus on effectiveness over absolute truth.
This process culminated in the work of Kant.