View
217
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
The Enlightenment
John Locke and Matthew Tindal
Back in Europe
• Huge challenges posed to Christianity
• Continues an aspect of the Reformation– Critique authority
• Reformation: scripture is highest authority
• Enlightenment: how do we know this? Why should we accept this?
Forerunner: Descartes
• Rene Descartes (1596-1650)– Philosopher, mathematician– “I think, therefore I am”
• How do we know anything? How can we be certain?
• Don’t simply trust authorities; doubt all received authority and knowledge
• “Raze everything to the ground, begin again from the original foundations”
• He knew he doubted; he thought, and he knew his own existence
Enlightenment themes
• Confidence in the abilities of human reason (to enlighten people)– How had they been in darkness?
• Religion is useful when it serves morality– But not the focus on supernatural, miracles, etc.,
because these things cannot be explained by reason
• Human reason leads to human progress– Through science, empiricism, knowledge– Humanity is progressing from primitive stages to an
advanced stage
John Locke
• Meaning of title?
• What are his questions?
• What role does reason play in his thought?
• Is this a “reasonable” reading?
Matthew Tindal
• What is natural religion? (Deism)– What does reason do? What is it capable of?
• How does Tindal interpret the Biblical story (creation, law)?– How do human beings become the center of
the story (cf. Placher)?
For next time
• Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?”– Why don’t people think for themselves?– What kind of religion does Kant favor?– What is enlightenment?
Recommended