The Enlightenment sought to combat both superstition and enthusiasm, viewing fanaticism as the bigger threat to establishing a rational society.
The delicate balance between liberty and fanaticism made free states vulnerable to the decline of Enlightenment values.
The end of the Enlightenment raises questions about the uncertain future, emphasizing the need for faith in reason and renewed commitment to enlightened thinking.
Deep dives
Enlightenment's opposition to superstition and enthusiasm
The Enlightenment was against both superstition, defined as false belief, and enthusiasm, which involved fanaticism. Early Enlightenment thinkers saw superstition as associated with Catholicism and enthusiasm with Radical Protestantism. However, perspectives differed depending on one's religious background. Some believed Protestantism was false belief, while others saw Catholicism as such. The Enlightenment sought to combat both forms of false belief and fanaticism.
Different threats to early 18th century Enlightenment values
In early 18th century Enlightenment values, both superstition and enthusiasm posed threats. While one person's superstition may be another person's faith, enthusiasm's extreme and uncritical attitude towards beliefs made it a potential danger to peace. However, the speaker argues that fanaticism, which stemmed from excessive enthusiasm, was the bigger threat. Fanaticism blurred the distinction between justified and unwarranted beliefs, making it difficult to establish a stable society based on reason.
The decline of free states and the Enlightenment
The decline of free states, such as Britain and France, marked the end of the Enlightenment. Both countries had achieved victories over superstition, enthusiasm, and fanaticism. However, the speaker highlights the challenge of maintaining liberty in free states. The desire to defend liberty could lead to excessive enthusiasm, potentially turning into fanaticism. The delicate balance between liberty and fanaticism made free states vulnerable. The speaker suggests that excessive enthusiasm for liberty posed a significant threat to early 18th century Enlightenment values.
The relationship between liberty and fanaticism
The history of liberty in free states, such as Britain, was intertwined with the risk of fanaticism. The liberty necessary for free states to exist could also lead to an extreme and misguided belief that necessitated violence, claiming that killing others would secure freedom. This connection between liberty and fanaticism emerged from the secularization of religious politics, aligning with the history of fanatic Protestantism. The speaker argues that this connection ultimately led to the end of the Enlightenment and the spread of religious warfare in a secular guise.
The uncertain future and the lessons of history
The end of the Enlightenment era raises questions about the uncertain future and the lessons learned from history. As the Enlightenment declined, different ideologies failed, leaving uncertain paths forward. The speaker discusses the parallels between the late 18th century and the present, highlighting the loss of faith in reason and the fragmented nature of discourse. However, the speaker suggests that even in the face of uncertainty, there is always a future, albeit one that requires faith in reason and a renewed commitment to enlightened thinking.
This week David talks to Richard Whatmore and Lea Ypi about what caused the loss of faith in the idea of Enlightenment at the end of the eighteenth century and the parallels with our loss of faith today. Why did hopes for a better, more rational world start to seem like wishful thinking? How was Britain implicated in the demise of Enlightenment ideals? And what might have happened if there had been no French Revolution?
