The Enlightenment promoted principles of reason, rational morality, freedom of speech, tolerance, and limited state power which enabled the modern Western civilization we enjoy today. However, critics argue the Enlightenment's freedoms also enabled greater control through mechanisms like racism, slavery, colonization. While the Enlightenment has shaped our world, its legacy and effects are still debated in areas like race, gender, and capitalism.

3. Enlightenment made possible the civilization that we
enjoy today, based on Western principles
Reason to understand reality and rational morality to
dictate behaviour
Promoted freedom of speech, tolerance and limited
power of the state to intervene in religion and morality
Freedom of association, property rights and a free
economy – “laissez faire capitalism”
Greater creativity which shapes our world today.

4. Michel Foucault – the Enlightenment’s freedoms have
actually enabled greater and more sinister control
Racism, slavery, colonisation
Issues to consider: race, gender, capitalism,
“civilization”, crime and punishment, logic and
empiricism.
Our world has been defined by the Enlightenment
and we are its products…