During the lecture, we examined the definition of the Enlightenment implying behind it. "The promise of the Enlightenment did not deliver as it promises." Ironically, the majority of people were unable to handle the broken promise of the Enlightenment. The Renaissance and Enlightenment movement took place in the 18th Century, which the ruling monarchies, in other words, the governments, had more power and control over the laws of nature. This kind of movement came from a operating method called "control, precision, and certainly" with the means of deduct reasoning.
On the other hand, some philosophers argued that "it was not a science that emphasized understanding, balance or harmony with universal forces and principles in order to work harmoniously with a nature to discover its intrinsic or essential values as a platform from which to operate." With this claim, there was no clear objects towards the involvement of the universe, culture, or the society in a whole. However, the regard is the total opposite to the fact during that time. It was a War against Nature.
There is a transition process: first of all, myth is to erase the unknown Nemesis, then the Enlightenment is to de-mystify the world. Observe regularity is for the human intervention impossible. Second, there are some distinct difference between realism and nominalism (ontology) and the other contrast is rationalism and empiricism (scientific methods). In this regard, we can conclude that thinking is unnecessary, or we can illustrate that thinking reproduces the world unchangeable clockwork nemesis. To move on, there are two terms called "conformity and passivity", which we can say the inability is to hear the yet unheard."
Also, I was surprised that the role of culture in society expressed during the class is different from my impression at first. It is said that consciousness such as arts and sciences, based on the dreams and its explanation, metaphysical subjects and astrology, play an essential part in the culture and life of the people's from different ethic groups in modern part of Europe.
There are two key points we have to think in depth, "How can we think change in a culture that is based on regularity and necessity?" and "the concept identifies a gap between the existing and the possible."
The following made me doubt whether or not you fully grasped the concept of Enlightenment as observing regularities was a part in this process, but maybe I misunderstood you:
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You however explained well how myth links to Enlightenment and I could easily link many concepts explained to the lecture.
Hi, I also find it interesting that thinking just reproduces the world. When we talk about the reproduction, most of us, firstly associates it with reproduction of art or massive media production. However, reproduction is also our minds and our thoughts. That's why we are in a way trapped in the same forms of society, in the same problems and political/economical decisions. That's why the question that you ask in the end of your post about the possibility to ever change society is so relevant and indeed important. Thanks for sharing.
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