The Republic of Ideas: The Enlightenment in Civic Perspective

What was the Enlightenment, and what remains of it today? This seminar examines the civic legacy of the Enlightenment and its significance for democratic life, including the development of Enlightenment ideas about reason, progress, religion, and rights--and the counter-movements they inspired. Students will read philosophers, scientists, and revolutionaries alongside their critics, asking whether reason leads to liberation or domination, tolerance or terror. The course situates the Enlightenment as a turning point in the history of civic ideals and the pursuit of a rational public sphere.