The Cause of the Enlightenment
Now, consider the linked image. It potentially demonstrates the cause of the Enlightenment.
You see, before the Reformation, the Holy Roman Empire controlled truth, and Western Civilization began to take shape. Unfortunately, absolute authoritarianism corrupts. Martin Luther thus led a successful rebellion against it (circa 1600), and Protestantism (Reformed Christianity) emerged.
For a time, faith remained central, but no one person controlled (God’s) truth. I hypothesize that this scenario led to the Enlightenment. From my perspective, this social state is cognitive perfection: an acknowledgment of absolute truth, but none (other than God) can claim it.
French philosopher (and writer) Voltaire remarked:
“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” (In a poem, Voltaire develops in a general way the idea that the existence of God (or the belief therein) helps establish social order.–Whitman College)
Nevertheless, to preserve the form and nature of the Reformed Chruch, the Bible was declared the Word (absolute truth). This seems safe enough, but over time, others began to rebel against even this authoritarianism–rightly so, I might add, because Biblical absolutism denies free will.
This movement, however, is understood as postmodernism: “In Western philosophy, it’s considered to be a movement from the late 20th century marked by broad subjectivity, skepticism, and relativism.” Wikipedia.
Now, the SELF has become the authoritarian. Widespread societal irrationality is the norm. And you know the rest. Civilization teeters.
As Voltaire obliquely suggests, this will fail, too, because Absolute truth is essential.
