Please respond to the following prompt:
Write an essay of 900-1200 words (3-4 pages, double-spaced) which (i) outlines the original vision of the philosophes and other early Enlightenment thinkers, (ii) documents the decline of that original vision and the rise of “irrationalism,” “nihilism, and “disenchantment,” and (iii) explains why, in your own view, the Enlightenment project has resulted in so much irrationality, political oppression, and violence.
Primary references: Perry, pp. 242-256 (from Chapter 10, “Intellectual Transformations: The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment,” for origins and ideals of the Enlightenment) & Perry, pp. 380-400 (from Chapter 17, “Modern Consciousness: New Views of Nature, Human Nature, and the Arts,” for decline of the Enlightenment)
Parameters:
– Single or Double Spacing is acceptable
– Use a reasonable font (Times New Roman, Garamond, Calibri)
– Any citations other than those from Perry must be accompanied with full references (MLA). For quotations and references from Perry, a simple page number is sufficient.