Student

What constitutes modernity? What are our values in current times?

The term modernity is defined as simply something modern or the quality of being modern. As for what constitutes modernity we must take a trip into the past to see what took place in history in social, Political, artistic and scientific movements that helped us reach what we today consider modern.

The Age of Enlightment changed forever the way we as humans view the world around us. The Age of Enlightment is a particular movement in western philosophy and intellectual, scientific and cultural life during the eighteenth century, in which reason was respected as primary source of legitimacy for authority. The inventive spirit, scientific inquiry, empiricism, equality, deism and an optimistic world view. This era also sparked the encyclopedia movement, which of course made intellectual information accessible to anyone who sought it out. The essence and mindset of this movement in time is captured with this quote;

“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things”

-Rene Descartes

It was this style of thinking that taught people to open their minds and go beyond the restraints that society prior to this time period had placed on nearly the entire human civilization.

Political Doctrine rejected Christian doctrines. Unfortunately, Christian doctrines were the main restraints placed on the people from extremists that discouraged individuality and open-mindedness and artistic expression. The Political Doctrine during this era was to also reform state and institutions. Change in government was brought about by great minds such as John Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. John Locke stressed defending property and individual rights. Hobbes stressed the state of man, the three branches of...