Human Development
Philosophy of enlightenment
Description:
A movement arising in the 17th and 18th centuries, the philosophy of enlightenment can be considered the emergence of the individual from intellectual dependence. Human reason, rational self-consciousness, was held to be capable of discovering the truth about humanity, the creation and the divine. Supernatural revelation was either denied or considered unnecessary for such discovery. The motto of the movement was [sapere aude] - have the courage to think - and the movement instigated the "Age of Reason" or "Age of Philosophers", believing that society could be rebuilt on rational foundations with the downfall of religious dogmatism and the triumph of science over the mediaeval, traditional scholasticism of the Church. According to Kant, man's state of dependence and inability to use his intellect without guidance was his own fault, and required decision and courage to change. The movement called for freedom from controls on individual independence and liberty. The emphasis on what man could do with his own powers led to scientific and mathematical analysis, experiment and discovery; to humanistic and atheistic tendencies; to scepticism and destructive criticism; and precipitated the French Revolution. Theologically, there seems a discrepancy between the struggle throughout history for freedom and the perfection of human endeavour through the intercession of God.