IAH 221C Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Coffeehouse, Outhouse, Utopia
24 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
A european intellectual movement of the late 17/18th century emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. Heavily influenced by 17th century philosphers such as descartes, locke, etc. In america, the enlightenment was a period of intellectual ferment in the 13 american colonies in the 17/18th centuries, which led: To the american revolution, and the creation of usa. Asked citizen to apply scientific reasoning and rational debate to politics, science, and religion. It has to be public and reason/rational (both these things) Jurgen habermas explains the importance to kant, and other enlightenment thinkers, of the public use of reason. Although the public begins in the salons of bourgeois, or middle class, home, the public sphere is established in the rational-critical debate of the citizens wherever there was debate that concerned the commonwealth. Early american coffeehouses represent a physical space for the public use of reason.
