Meaning of Counter-Enlightenment | Babel Free

Definitions

Any of various strains of thought in opposition to the Enlightenment or its ideals.

Examples

“Indeed, a common criticism of the Enlightenment project—that it is a Western invention, unsuited to the world in all its diversity—is doubly wrongheaded. For one thing, all ideas have⟳ to come⟳ from somewhere, and their birthplace has no bearing on their merit. Though many Enlightenment ideas were articulated in their clearest and most influential form⟳ in 18th-century Europe and America, they are rooted in reason⟳ and human nature, so any reasoning human can engage⟳ with them. That’s why Enlightenment ideals have⟳ been articulated in non-Western civilizations at many times in history.² But my main reaction to the claim⟳ that the Enlightenment is the guiding ideal of the West is: If only! The Enlightenment was swiftly followed by a counter-Enlightenment, and the West has been divided ever since.³ No sooner did people step into the light⟳ than they were advised that darkness wasn’t so bad after all, that they should stop⟳ daring to understand⟳ so much, that dogmas and formulas deserved another chance, and that human nature’s destiny was not progress⟳ but decline⟳.”

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