Our Context: A New Enlightenment

Orient Yourself to the Coming Change

The way we think and live is undergoing a profound change, one which will establish itself this century. Sufficiently transformative to be called an Enlightenment, the change is rooted in a new approach to social life that engages with our creativity. The discovery of the Taxonomy is one manifestation of this development.

The new challenge is to use our awareness so as to create a better life. New principles will effectively complement the 18^th century challenge for each of us to use our intelligence.

In the present transitional phase, many are starting to think in new ways, often without being fully aware of the implications. The Taxonomy reveals how consciousness is naturally used. So this website is dedicated to help you engage effectively with the unfolding future.

Start now with some history →

Success & Failure of the 18^th C Enlightenment

The 18^th Century Enlightenment was about society, not science The scientific revolution overturning the dead hand of religious dogma had taken place much earlier, through the heroic efforts of investigators like Galileo, Brahe, and Copernicus.. It was led from France by Diderot, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. However, Englishman Locke and Dutchman Spinoza were prominent contributors, as were Adam Smith and David Hume, both Scots. Franklin and Jefferson spread the ideas in America. The great Immanuel Kant wrote a famous essay: What is Enlightenment? late in the period.

There were dozens of prominent intellectuals sharing a belief in the existence, importance and power of reason. Using reason, an assault was launched on widespread tyranny, ignorance and superstition. The main aims were social progress, ensuring everyone was equally and permanently possessed of certain rights, and public engagement with social issues.

The 18^th C thinkers viewed «enlightenment» as the freedom to use one's own intelligence. So the demand placed on people was courage, not cleverness.

Test Your Intelligence and Courage Now

• Can a king be divine or possess a divine right and be unable to do any wrong?
• Should your parentage determine your worth and your place in society?
• Should you pay taxes to support the sumptuous lifestyle of unproductive courtiers and aristocrats whose ranks you can never join?
• Should you allow others to make major decisions on social matters affecting your life without allowing you to comment, or disregarding your views as irrelevant?
• Should the church censor what you read and tell you what is true?

Did you need courage to answer with a "No"? Probably not: but you will need it for the New Enlightenment. In the early 18th century, the answers to such questions were always "Yes", simply because: the rulers and/or the church said so, and they enforced their views with threats, imprisonment, torture and execution—whatever was required to defend their interests. They always insisted and probably believed that it was for the greater good. You might well have felt there was injustice and hated the violence visited on you, your family and friends, but it was difficult to see beyond «how things are and would always be». If you could imagine that society could be different, then it took a lot of courage to speak up.

Success: Wonderful

The Enlightenment meshed with the industrial revolution and the emergence of the middle class. It led to democracy becoming a desirable form of government, and the rule of law became an aspiration, if not a reality, worldwide. Authority and tradition as determinants of knowledge gave way to education for all and to dependence on scientific investigation. The power of the churches receded to more suitable boundaries of community, service and worship.

Failure: To be Fixed

The 18th Century Enlightenment also led to the development of the social sciences, but here it failed miserably, despite generating some useful factual knowledge. The imposition of natural science methods onto our human world of feelings, value, intuition and spirit has been an unmitigated flop. Economics, in particular, is a disaster zone.

That was then. This is now →

21^st Century: Forces & Barriers

The 18^th Century Enlightenment and associated social changes led to phenomenal scientific progress in the 20^th century.
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This occurred despite appalling wars and social miseries in the first 50 years, and the uneven global distribution of economic growth. The invention of the microprocessor in the 1970s generated a technological revolution whose development is running ever stronger. In the final decades, communism disintegrated and billions more people brought their interests and capabilities into the wider social arena.

Computing, communication, globalization, networks, and education have combined to place awesome power in the hands of every person.
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• increasingly cheap, powerful, miniaturized computing technologies;
• easy globalization of travel, trade and communications;
• cheap fast Internet access to the world's information for most;
• widespread higher education for vast numbers in most countries;
• worldwide social networks based on values and interests.

These unstoppable forces for change are leading to an alteration in consciousness and a revolution in thinking. The difference from the previous Enlightenment is that there is now far less need for thinkers and intellectuals to courageously highlight humanity's ills.Anyone can become aware and express a view.

If you are ready to think for yourself and have the courage, then you are in a good position to confront and address the two current barriers to social progress. These will persist as long as people say to themselves and each other "that's just the way things are and it will never change."

The political barrier: kleptocracy + ineptocracy.
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The science barrier: materialism + mechanism.
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A mechanistic and materialistic science, nervous about human fundamentals like autonomy, virtue and creativity combines with a politics unable to respect truth or liberty and unwilling to deliver peace and justice. While society requires each of us to create a personal and social life, neither science nor politics is delivering the means to do this well.

Something must change, and it is →

Evolution of the Transition

Fortunately, there has been progress in personal development which is now bearing fruit. It started with Freud, whose discoveries built on a long tradition of reflective thought in the West; and with Marx, who raised consciousness of social conditions.

The result was a popular awareness of an inner self, distinct from society but affected by it. This conviction of unique, valid personal experiences culminated in a worldwide movement in the 1960s. In the West, the young adult generation rebelled at last and threw off the shackles of lifelong parental authority. The prize was liberation from irrational guilt, from inappropriate deference and from self-defeating inhibitions.

Personal freedom having been achieved in this social process, the challenge lying before the current generation is far greater: what do I do with my freedom? The present transitional situation in developed societies reveals a direct engagement with this question. There is evidence for:

An Upsurge in Self-expression ►

Via commenting, via blogs, via personal websites, via Facebook,Twitter and other social media sites; and even via consumer activities where marketeers are listening rather than telling. These communications create psychosocial reality, especially when they are felt intensely.

Aspirations to Authenticity ►

Intensity of feeling is developing because more and more people encourage each other to accept the value of being yourself, of self-direction, of speaking from the heart, of building trust, and similar virtues associated with commitment and creativity. It's still hard to know how and when to function in this vulnerable but powerful manner.

Valuing of a Variety of Viewpoints ►

Opening up to global realities makes life more complicated. We let ourselves become exposed to a far wider variety of beliefs, cultures, paradigms, doctrines and perspectives than previously. So the habitual reflex belief in the superiority of «my own» viewpoint or culture or race no longer feels right. We are discovering that «my own way» is only better for me, or for a specific group, or in specific types of situation.

Searching for Answers ►

Because living creatively and authentically is a challenge that is not being met by conventional authorities, people turn elsewhere. They look to a myriad of bloggers, advisers, therapists, self-styled experts, self-help schools, astrologers, spiritual guides, esoteric websites, even neuroscience and cognitive science publicity materials—all in order to understand and handle themselves better.

The above behaviours, even if often immature and simplistic, mean that the millennial generation is already stepping into the future. The leaders amongst them, without knowing exactly how, expect to find solutions to many of the problems that still plague societies. They are also entering scientific disciplines and taking their convictions with them. There is no turning back now—and there is a wonderful optimism.

Get a fix on what is going on—and explain to others →

Features of the 21^st Century Enlightenment

Click to see a summary comparison of the two Enlightenments.

The 18th C Enlightenment	The 21st C Enlightenment
Reason is the most significant and positive capacity of humanity. More: Reason has made possible an explosive progress in technology that has improved quality and length of life. It is also the basis of depoliticization and de-churchification of knowledge, and the globalization of knowledge growth.	Awareness is the most significant and positive capacity of humanity. More: Awareness permits a leap forward for: ●personal life via humane and individualized child-rearing leading to better relationships; and ●political life via inhibitions on lying, cheating, stealing, demonizing, and bureaucratic control.
Reason enables one to break free from bonds of irrationality, submission to authority or tradition, and ignorance. More: Prior to this era, there was superstition, acceptance of censorship, and church or crown control over expressed beliefs.	Awareness enables one to break free from bonds of irrationality, submission to doctrines-as-authority, and ignorance. More: The ability to recognize and value distinctive perspectives, paradigms and cultural values reduces arrogance and improves cooperation, relationships and progress.
Reasoning well leads to choosing well and behaving well. More: Instead of whim or power, evidence and rational tools can be used for social policy-making and organizational decisions.	Awareness leads to choosing well and responsibility for actions. More: The ability to resist temptations around wealth and power is the primary route to a better life for yourself and others.
Reason can generate progress, and improve people and societies. More: Scientific progress is now widely desired and will produce further benefit—if the underpinning values are sound.	Awareness can generate progress and improve people and their societies. More: Social progress depends on being responsible for politicians, and resisting the temptations of power and money in everyday life.
Reason makes all humans equal and so deserving equal liberty and equality before the law. More: The development of democracy, rule of law and use of evidence, are the foundations for a sensible political life.	Awareness makes all humans equal and therefore deserving of equal respect and compassion. More: A public sense of responsibility plus humane concerns precluding «might is right» approaches are the foundations for a sensible political life.
All human endeavours should seek to impart and develop knowledge and promote the dispassionate use of intelligence by every person. Dare to think!	All human endeavours should seek to impart and develop awareness and responsibility—including use of doctrines of the 18th Century Enlightenment. Dare to be aware!

The coming Enlightenment differs from the last in being an emergence of the responsibility to use one's own awareness intelligently. However, the demand placed on us is the same: courage.

We, including you, are in charge of this social process, which entails:

• a responsibility to gain awareness—as appropriate for you;
• a responsibility to maintain awareness and reflect—within your capabilities;
• a responsibility to act on awareness—as appropriate for you.

Your dominant personal tool will be awareness.
Awareness will complement reason, by providing purpose and meaning.
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Holding a purpose, value or meaning is equivalent to being responsible for it. A typical effect would be to make the social tolerance of last century, so often hypocritical in practice, a personal tolerance that recognizes and respects human diversity. This would pave the way for far more constructive cooperation and peaceful coexistence in many settings.

Your dominant social demand will be responsibility.
Responsibility will complement freedom, making it socially constructive.
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Social arrangements—whether familial, organizational, communal, or governmental—will embed more clarity and higher expectations as to responsibilities. If many are comfortable about taking on their responsibility and feel challenged to handle it creatively, then morale, motivation, well-being, communal life and results will all improve.

Your dominant aspiration will be to know who you can be and create yourself.
Integrity: congruence between what you say and what you do, will be valued.
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You are your own experiences. You have a history, but while it affects and shapes you, it does not make choices for you. Others may try to manipulate your emotions and fears—but you do not have to let that happen. Above all, see arrogance as a curse, and power as a dangerous necessity. Have compassion for yourself and you can look within and discover both who you are and who you can be. Tell yourself what is important in life. Keep it in mind by talking about it. Write it down too. You will then act accordingly.

Now, see how this website can help you →

Get Involved!

The emerging transnational world—of unique and creative individuals, determined to be aware and to take responsibility—needs a new way of thinking about being human. Leaders of all sorts need relevant and ethical frameworks to guide their efforts efficiently and consensually.

Any major social change needs an intellectual infrastructure. An essential contribution to that need is provided by this website. The assumptions of the Taxonomy are natural and constructive. Its frameworks are true to life as we live it. It predicts many of the problematic situations we face daily.

Everyone should know about the existence of THEE, even if it is not appropriate for all to go deeply into the frameworks.

Self-starters, Leaders & Advisors should get to grips with THEE because it is a mirror and a map of yourself-in-committed-action. It was devised through helping people like yourself achieve their goals far more effectively and ethically.

Scientists, Thinkers & Inquirers should contribute to taxonomic investigations: correcting errors, extending coverage, solving architectural puzzles, devising and testing conjectures.

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• This is a great time to be alive, despite the current politico-economic mess.
• Get your thinking straight. Grip the issues. Create the future.
• If you are a researcher in cognition, neuroscience or artificial intelligence, debate your assumptions.
• Email me any time.

Originally posted: April 2012; Last amended: 7-Oct-2016