Philosophy
While demonstrating and overcoming the intellectual and practical shortcomings of dogma, tradition, authority and oppression prevalent in the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment brought about a fantastic intellectual, social and political revolution, as well as the promise of individualism, freedom, human rights, justice, rationality, free trade, autonomy and progress.
And while things have gotten better in many respects, developments in various scientific and philosophical disciplines have revealed that those promising concepts, important as they are, are somewhat simplistic and out of synch with our current understanding of human nature. Worse, by focusing exclusively on threats to these principles, our modern obsession with these concepts often interferes with the ideals to which we should strive.
In the following animated presentation, Matthew Taylor explores the meaning of 21st century enlightenment, and how this new conception could help us meet the serious challenges confronting us today.
If that caught your attention, you might be interested in the full speech and the Q&A that followed:
Check out other thought-provoking animated speeches.
.
- Applied Philosophy
Though often seen as a wholly abstract field, philosophy is not without practical applications. The most obvious applications are those in ethics ? applied ethics in particular ? and in political philosophy. The political and economic philosophies of...
- The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial Of Human Nature
"Our conceptions of human nature affect every aspect of our lives, from the way we raise our children to the political movements we embrace. Yet, just as science is bringing us into a golden age of understanding human nature, many people are hostile to...
- Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Education Paradigms
After delivering two of the most popular TEDTalk presentations to date (here and here), the always-engaging Sir Ken Robinson is back to provide a fascinating analysis of the roots of the current educational crisis. The educational system of the 21st century,...
- Tim Jackson - An Economic Reality Check
As you may have noticed, we are living in an increasingly consumerist world, and while certain quantifiable criteria of economic progress have become more prevalent than in any other time in history, and (as Matthew Taylor recently argued in his talk...
- The Genius Of Britain - Episode 1
The scientific revolution represents one of the most exciting developments of our species' history, replacing the old traditions of dogma, authority, superstition and fear with the promise of true understanding, reason, knowledge and freedom. The...
Philosophy
Matthew Taylor - 21st Century Enlightenment
While demonstrating and overcoming the intellectual and practical shortcomings of dogma, tradition, authority and oppression prevalent in the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment brought about a fantastic intellectual, social and political revolution, as well as the promise of individualism, freedom, human rights, justice, rationality, free trade, autonomy and progress.And while things have gotten better in many respects, developments in various scientific and philosophical disciplines have revealed that those promising concepts, important as they are, are somewhat simplistic and out of synch with our current understanding of human nature. Worse, by focusing exclusively on threats to these principles, our modern obsession with these concepts often interferes with the ideals to which we should strive.
In the following animated presentation, Matthew Taylor explores the meaning of 21st century enlightenment, and how this new conception could help us meet the serious challenges confronting us today.
If that caught your attention, you might be interested in the full speech and the Q&A that followed:
Check out other thought-provoking animated speeches.
.
- Applied Philosophy
Though often seen as a wholly abstract field, philosophy is not without practical applications. The most obvious applications are those in ethics ? applied ethics in particular ? and in political philosophy. The political and economic philosophies of...
- The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial Of Human Nature
"Our conceptions of human nature affect every aspect of our lives, from the way we raise our children to the political movements we embrace. Yet, just as science is bringing us into a golden age of understanding human nature, many people are hostile to...
- Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Education Paradigms
After delivering two of the most popular TEDTalk presentations to date (here and here), the always-engaging Sir Ken Robinson is back to provide a fascinating analysis of the roots of the current educational crisis. The educational system of the 21st century,...
- Tim Jackson - An Economic Reality Check
As you may have noticed, we are living in an increasingly consumerist world, and while certain quantifiable criteria of economic progress have become more prevalent than in any other time in history, and (as Matthew Taylor recently argued in his talk...
- The Genius Of Britain - Episode 1
The scientific revolution represents one of the most exciting developments of our species' history, replacing the old traditions of dogma, authority, superstition and fear with the promise of true understanding, reason, knowledge and freedom. The...