The Enlightenment

[Jubal]

     Although the intellectual movement called "The Enlightenment" is usually associated with the 18th century, its roots in fact go back much further. But before we explore those roots, we need to define the term. This is one of those rare historical movements which in fact named itself. Certain thinkers and writers, primarily in London and Paris, believed that they were more enlightened than their compatriots and set out to enlighten them.

     They believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a better world. Their principal targets were religion (embodied in France in the Catholic Church) and the domination of society by a hereditary aristocracy.

Is it just me, or do we need more of this around today? Discuss.

[Goldyrulz]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

i dont know...
someone enlighten me... (get it!)

[Gen_Glory]

you know i always thought enlightenment is a buddhist thing

[Andalus]

Is it just me, or do we need more of this around today? 

I don't see why. Except perhaps the ignorance bit.

[Jubal]

Basically the idea of enligntenment (in the philosophical, not Bhuddist religous sense) is that we can use rational thought, science and reason to work out the best and fairest way to make sure the world is run smoothly.

Compare with the following;
 - American lobbyists and Iranian fundamentalists (among others) who believe that we shoudl run our lives in fear of hell
 - Politicians who ignore the science to pander to scaremongering or anti-science by the tabloids
 - Tabloids who portray said antiscience as fact

There is a lot of room for academia to inform governement and it is just being ignored. Also, there is equally a lot of room for rationality to supersede idocy.

[Pentagathus]

Yet it will never work so whats the point? Being fair isn't in the interests of many people.

[Jubal]

The point is to do the best we can. That always has to be the point, or we may as welll all throw ourselves out of second floor windows tomorow.

[Bridgeburner]

I think you meant to say American right-wing, evangelical, hate gays, blacks, latinos, foreigners (note here that all americans are foreigners it is just a matter of how far back you look) and anyone who believes the world to be older than 6000 years...ists, not lobbyists.

[Jubal]

Probably, yea.