What is Enlightenment? The Dialectic of Enlightenment

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Modern
Cover of the book What is Enlightenment? The Dialectic of Enlightenment by Kristian Klett, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kristian Klett ISBN: 9783638309271
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: September 24, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Kristian Klett
ISBN: 9783638309271
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: September 24, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 1999 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the Present, grade: Pass, University of Melbourne, course: Introduction to Critical Theory, language: English, abstract: While we live in a post-modern World - having the age of Enlightenment, the eighteenth century, far in our rear view mirror - the concept of Enlightenment is still a basic philosophical task. Its origin, its constitution and its goal are wildly disputed, unknown or undefined, whatever point of view might here be adequate. Still, Enlightenment is seen to be a determining part of human nature, of 'what we are, what we think, what we do.' (Foucault, p.32) We still live (and an interesting question here would be: will we always live?) within the 'shadow' of the eighteenth century Enlightenment, even though the new era of modernity or post-modernity has been introduced. Since Enlightenment 'dissolve[d] the injustice of the old inequality' (Adorno, p.12) of church, nobility, Bourgeoisie and the people, of mastery and serfdom with reason as its mediator, we face the problem of its side effects and its results, and - most importantly - its limits. Must man define his border to experience freedom (which is still within limits though they are not consciously felt, if these limits are wide enough), or can he overcome a reasonable reason in some way? Alternatively has institutionalised knowledge (with the help of religion) established a 'building' of ideologies1 that is of eternal character? This leads to the question of possible 'exits' from Enlightenment which already happens to have been a 'way out' (Foucault, p.34) from immaturity, but is now mutilated to a new 'prison' of human beings in post-modernity. Is the human mind ever to reach a state of 'nirvana' or its secular utopia, a never available dream world; liberty of universals, the ultimate freedom? Will man ever be able to come back to paradise, now that he has eaten from the 'tree of knowledge'? (Kantos, p.239) This essay tries to elaborate on the post-modern view of Enlightenment through the perspective of Adorno and Horkheimer's 'Dialectic of Enlightenment' and the contrary perspective of Foucault's essay, 'What is Enlightenment?'

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 1999 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the Present, grade: Pass, University of Melbourne, course: Introduction to Critical Theory, language: English, abstract: While we live in a post-modern World - having the age of Enlightenment, the eighteenth century, far in our rear view mirror - the concept of Enlightenment is still a basic philosophical task. Its origin, its constitution and its goal are wildly disputed, unknown or undefined, whatever point of view might here be adequate. Still, Enlightenment is seen to be a determining part of human nature, of 'what we are, what we think, what we do.' (Foucault, p.32) We still live (and an interesting question here would be: will we always live?) within the 'shadow' of the eighteenth century Enlightenment, even though the new era of modernity or post-modernity has been introduced. Since Enlightenment 'dissolve[d] the injustice of the old inequality' (Adorno, p.12) of church, nobility, Bourgeoisie and the people, of mastery and serfdom with reason as its mediator, we face the problem of its side effects and its results, and - most importantly - its limits. Must man define his border to experience freedom (which is still within limits though they are not consciously felt, if these limits are wide enough), or can he overcome a reasonable reason in some way? Alternatively has institutionalised knowledge (with the help of religion) established a 'building' of ideologies1 that is of eternal character? This leads to the question of possible 'exits' from Enlightenment which already happens to have been a 'way out' (Foucault, p.34) from immaturity, but is now mutilated to a new 'prison' of human beings in post-modernity. Is the human mind ever to reach a state of 'nirvana' or its secular utopia, a never available dream world; liberty of universals, the ultimate freedom? Will man ever be able to come back to paradise, now that he has eaten from the 'tree of knowledge'? (Kantos, p.239) This essay tries to elaborate on the post-modern view of Enlightenment through the perspective of Adorno and Horkheimer's 'Dialectic of Enlightenment' and the contrary perspective of Foucault's essay, 'What is Enlightenment?'

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book 'A photograph without space and time'. Functions, Values and Messages of the 'generated-through software photograph' (GSP) by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book The Central Banks of Europe, Japan, the U.S. and the U.K. Their Policy Responses to Specific Sets of Economic Challenges by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Basel 3 capital requirements - overview and critical evaluation by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Teaching Terrorism by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Book review on B. L. Glasser's 'Economic Development and Political Reform: The Impact of External Capital on the Middle East' by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Social Theory - Between modernism and postmodernism Enlightenment and Romance by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book 'Solvitur acris hiems' - ein Frühlingsgedicht des Horaz by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Beiträge zur Entwicklung in Usbekistan und China by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Western European Union - An organization without future? by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Modernity and ambivalence in Jewish national ideology by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book The presentation of love in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book The EU and ASEAN - Ready for the future? by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Kritische Analyse der Personalbeschaffung über Zeitarbeitsfirmen by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Trauma and Postmemory in Art Spiegelman's 'The Complete Maus' and Helen Fremont's 'After Long Silence' by Kristian Klett
Cover of the book Test and Measurement. Bias and Cultural diversity in Psychological Assessment by Kristian Klett
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy