Enlightenment Philosophies

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The (European) Enlightenment is often associated with the Scientific Revolution (in the study of “nature”), valorization of reason, and quests for political freedom among other things. We’ll examine these aspects of the Enlightenment—under the concepts of NATURE, SOCIETY, and FREEDOM—in a nuanced manner. We’ll do so by paying attention to the often-neglected fact that the Enlightenment unfolded against the backdrop of colonialism and racial slavery as well as patriarchal social arrangements. So, in practice, the Enlightenment idea of freedom was never meant for everyone. In fact, its celebration and pursuit of freedom went hand in hand with practices of oppression. The Enlightenment philosophers themselves often played a direct or indirect role in condoning, justifying, or deepening such practices. This raises hard questions about how best to understand and deal with the Enlightenment’s legacies. We’ll explore such questions throughout the semester. And we’ll strive to do so with an open mind. This course will be taught in a seminar style. It will be discussion- and writing-heavy. Assignments are designed to further your writing and communication skills as well as your ability to think in a clearer, more sophisticated, and more systematic manner than you already do. We’ll emphasize active learning, which means that you, the student, will always be in the driving seat one way or another. This also means that you’ll be expected to be well prepared for each class.