Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis

Two hundred and twenty years after the French Revolution, the problem of defining the concept of the Enlightenment still persists. Considering the lack of agreement over the defining features of this movement or epoch, our aim is to show that it has never been fully and clearly defined and under...

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Main Author: Bajović Tijana
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade 2010-01-01
Series:Filozofija i Društvo
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2010/0353-57381002003B.pdf
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author Bajović Tijana
author_facet Bajović Tijana
author_sort Bajović Tijana
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description Two hundred and twenty years after the French Revolution, the problem of defining the concept of the Enlightenment still persists. Considering the lack of agreement over the defining features of this movement or epoch, our aim is to show that it has never been fully and clearly defined and understood. The author therefore suggests making a distinction between enlightenment (enlightening) and the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment as a period linked to 18th century Europe, can be understood as part of a broader process of enlightenment or enlightening. The Enlightenment should not be viewed as a homogenous whole, an integral process, but as a (still living) tissue, that still exerts considerable influence on Western thought and culture. The author argues, however, that the accusations of projecting or inventing the Enlightenment have not proved very useful, because they interfere with our understanding of this complex phenomenon and important movement in European history.
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spelling doaj.art-18c14eb152454b249b7121d938ac8a8d2022-12-21T19:41:05ZdeuInstitute for Philosophy and Social Theory, BelgradeFilozofija i Društvo0353-57382010-01-0121232710.2298/FID1002003BEnlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisisBajović TijanaTwo hundred and twenty years after the French Revolution, the problem of defining the concept of the Enlightenment still persists. Considering the lack of agreement over the defining features of this movement or epoch, our aim is to show that it has never been fully and clearly defined and understood. The author therefore suggests making a distinction between enlightenment (enlightening) and the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment as a period linked to 18th century Europe, can be understood as part of a broader process of enlightenment or enlightening. The Enlightenment should not be viewed as a homogenous whole, an integral process, but as a (still living) tissue, that still exerts considerable influence on Western thought and culture. The author argues, however, that the accusations of projecting or inventing the Enlightenment have not proved very useful, because they interfere with our understanding of this complex phenomenon and important movement in European history.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2010/0353-57381002003B.pdfenlightenmentthe Enlightenmentprojecting the Enlightenmentpublic spheremodernity
spellingShingle Bajović Tijana
Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
Filozofija i Društvo
enlightenment
the Enlightenment
projecting the Enlightenment
public sphere
modernity
title Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
title_full Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
title_fullStr Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
title_full_unstemmed Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
title_short Enlightening the enlightenment: On the permanent concept crisis
title_sort enlightening the enlightenment on the permanent concept crisis
topic enlightenment
the Enlightenment
projecting the Enlightenment
public sphere
modernity
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2010/0353-57381002003B.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT bajovictijana enlighteningtheenlightenmentonthepermanentconceptcrisis