4.1.1. The Enlightenment

During the late 17th and 18th centuries, Western Europe saw the emergence of radically new ways of thinking about the world. Refered to as ‘The Enlightenment’, these new philosophies established the human being at the centre of the universe, and rational thought as the central feature of the human being.

The Enlightenment was a period where new ways of thinking were developed, shifting the focus from traditional or religious explanations of the world to human reason and rational thought. Intellectuals began to argue that human beings should be viewed as the central figures in understanding the universe rather than religious or divine interpretation, promoting a sense of human agency and rationality.

Imagine a classroom where students traditionally rely solely on the teacher's answers. Then, one day, a teacher encourages students to ask questions and think for themselves. This shift represents the Enlightenment, where learners (humans) take charge of their understanding, similar to how society began to favor reason over tradition.

The ability to think rationally and critically transformed the individual human being into both the producer and the user of all knowledge, the ‘knowing subject’. On the other hand, only persons who could think and reason could be considered as fully human.

The Enlightenment redefined what it meant to be human. The concept of the 'knowing subject' suggests that individuals who engage in rational thinking are seen as the bearers of knowledge. This notion also implied that those who could not think critically, such as those in less developed societies, were viewed as less than fully human, highlighting an unjust hierarchical perspective.

Think of this like a game where only players who can read the rules thoroughly are allowed to play. Those unable to understand the rules aren't considered part of the game. This mirrors how rational thought defined who was regarded as fully human during the Enlightenment.

Being the handiwork of humans, society was amenable to rational analysis and thus comprehensible to other humans. For reason to become the defining feature of the human world, it was necessary to displace nature, religion and the divine acts of gods from the central position they had in earlier ways of understanding the world.

Enlightenment thinkers believed society could be understood and improved through rational analysis, much like how scientists study natural phenomena. This required a shift away from religious explanations and a focus on human reasoning. By placing humans at the center of analysis, it allowed for societal issues to be tackled through critical thought, paving the way for various social reforms.

Consider how doctors use scientific methods to understand diseases rather than relying on ancient beliefs. This rational approach to health mirrors the Enlightenment’s call for using reason to understand and improve society.

This means that the Enlightenment was made possible by, and in turn helped to develop, attitudes of mind that we refer to today as secular, scientific and humanistic.

The Enlightenment fostered new attitudes that emphasized secularism (separation from religious dogma), scientific inquiry (the use of the scientific method), and humanism (focusing on human values and concerns). These changes were crucial in shaping contemporary thoughts about morality, society, and knowledge, paving the way for modern democratic and secular states.

Imagine how a garden is cultivated. Enlightenment thinkers like gardeners who removed weeds (outdated beliefs) and nourished the soil (knowledge and reason), allowing vibrant new ideas (flowers of progress) to grow and thrive.

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