The following is taken from The Intellectual Heritage Program of Temple.
“The Natural Rights philosophy that we study in Intellectual Heritage reflects the central ideals of the Enlightenment, also called the Age of Reason (1660-1798). John Locke and Thomas Jefferson are just two of the many notable thinkers and writers who share Enlightenment values.
A basic list of these values would include the following:
- a deep commitment to reason,
- a trust in the emerging modern sciences to solve problems and provide control over nature,
- a commitment to the idea of progress in material wealth and in human civility,
- a belief in the essential goodness of human nature,
- an emphasis upon the individual as master of his fate and fortune, and
- an engagement with the public sphere of discussion and action.
In short, the Enlightenment thinkers believed in the powers of humankind and saw themselves as part of a revolutionary development in history that would replace superstition and tired rituals and corrupt traditions with reason and productive energy.”
In many ways, web 2.0 is akin to The Enlightenment, at least the concepts and promises. We have to tweak a bit because I’m not sure many people understand “reason” like the Enlightenment thinkers understood reason, and as for science controlling nature, well, maybe technology controlling cyber-nature . Yet, as an eternal optimist, I believe reason is making a comeback — merely because transparency forces an acceptance of “what is, is”, independent of definitions proffered by presidents before grand juries. Nature is another story, but we learn about what “is” and “isn’t” as we go forward and allow all science to have a voice.
The internet gives voice to reason and presents scientific facts, so the answers are there for those who search, even if you have to wade through gobs of misinformation, which brings us to an “emphasis upon the individual as master of his fate and fortune”.
On a smaller, more mundane scale there is an enlightenment process going on in the real estate industry. I read yesterday where Gen Y (or was it X) is changing everything by questioning traditional methods. This is not particularly new — new generations have been questioning Read more