The Ambiguous Legacy of the EnlightenmentWilliam A. Rusher, Ken Masugi As the twentieth century closes, having withstood two world wars, a massive economic depression, and the rise of murderous, despotic regimes that based their existence on rationalistic theories, the legacy of the Enlightenment has come under new scrutiny. This new collection of essays from the Claremont Institute examines both the beneficial aspects of the Enlightenment as well as those considered detrimental. Including essays by political and social scientists such as Charles Kesler and Ernest van den Haag as well as scientists like Edward Teller and Sir Fred Hoyle, this book examines why in the postmodern world of the late twentieth century, the application of reason, rationalism, and the scientific method to explain natural, social, and economic phenomena takes place almost without a second thought. While these modes of looking at the world have provided considerable benefits, especially when related to the natural realm, the perpetual use of reason and rationalism to explain man's existence has nudged theology aside, allowing secular humanism to displace reliance on a divine Providence and often leaving mankind spiritually adrift. Co-published with the Claremont Institute. |
Contents
The Roots of the Enlightenment | 1 |
Blumenberg and the Legitimacy of the Modern | 22 |
the Apotheosis of | 38 |
Copyright | |
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actual American ancient science anthropic principle Aristotle Bacon believe Blumenberg Christian claim classical classical mechanics common concept consciousness contemporary Descartes Descartes's Discourse on Method divine Enlightenment Enlightenment's Essay existence fact Francis Bacon Fred Hoyle freedom French Geiger counter goal Greek Hegel Heisenberg Hobbes human nature Hume ideas individual intellectual Jefferson John Locke Kant knowledge laws liberty limitations living Locke Locke's logical Löwith man's mathematical matter means mechanics metaphysics method mind modern age modern biology modern science moral movement mysterious natural science naturalistic fallacy nuclear object ontology Parmenides philosophes physicist physics Plato political possible problem progress purpose quantum quantum mechanics question rational reality reason religion religious Revolution Robert Jastrow Rousseau scientific secularization sense social society Socrates soul species theory things thinkers thought tradition Treatises truth understanding University Press values virtue Voltaire whole words York
References to this book
Fürsten und Mächte: zum Problem des europäischen Absolutismus Ernst Hinrichs No preview available - 2000 |