From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Wed Aug 20 2003 - 16:03:32 MDT
On Tue, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:38:48PM +1000, Damien Broderick wrote:
> I just did a free rendering into somewhat idiomatic English of the great
> philosopher Kant's key essay (for a German newspaper) on the topic of the
> Enlightenment.
Impressive! It makes sense, and it feels both modern and relevant.
It is interesting to see how he links the psychology of enlightenment to
the sociology of enlightenment - we cannot easily become enlightened
alone, we need others to overcome learned helplessness and get the
exhilarating autocatalysis of active questioning and building.
> A social contract intended to prevent all further enlightenment of
> humankind forever is absolutely null and void, however solemnly ratified.
> One age cannot enter into an alliance on oath to put the next age in a
> position where it would be impossible for it to extend and correct its
> knowledge, particularly on such important matters, or to make any progress
> whatsoever in enlightenment. This would be a crime against human nature,
> whose original destiny lies precisely in such progress.
A very good point, something Fukuyama and the others should consider.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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