The Genesis of Modernity
Instructor: Dr. Jan Bentz
In this seminar we will explore the origins of modernity, guided by Charles Taylor’s seminal insight that we live in a “Secular Age.” We will analyze the key elements of modern thought through the pivotal minds that shaped its trajectory, including Ockham, Luther, Galileo, Descartes, and Hobbes. In particular, we will see how these figures influenced the emergence of radical subjectivism, deism, atheism, radical materialism, scientism, and the profound separation between man, the world, and the divine. Our analytical discussions will elucidate the complex interplay of ideas that have defined this pivotal period in human history. These insights should help the student understand modernity and the intellectual currents that continue to shape our contemporary world.
- Teacher: Jan Bentz