The Enlightenment (roughly
1650-1800) was a politically and intellectually revolutionary period of history
that defined the ideas that continue to shape the way we see ourselves and the
world we live in – ideas like democracy, free speech, individualism, scientific
evidence, free markets, and human rights.
By examining this period, this module provides students with a crucial
framework for understanding today's dominant intellectual currents and social
contexts – a framework that proves remarkably useful for students in their
second and third year. Indeed, graduating students often rank it among the most
useful modules they've taken. Built on a spine of lectures delivered by experts
from across the Faculties of Humanities and the Social Sciences, this interdisciplinary
module covers topics such as slavery and anti-slavery revolts, how colonialism
and technological change is reflected in literature of the time, early
feminism, the American Revolution, the roots of capitalism, the aftermath of
the Scientific Revolution, the origins of modern law and medicine, Rousseau's
critique of social inequality, the French Revolution, and Dutch Still Life
paintings as expressions of modern subjectivity. We will draw on artworks,
novels, political pamphlets, and speeches, as well as philosophical texts.
- Module Supervisor: Fabian Freyenhagen