The promise of Enlightenment | Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) (2024)

We commence with Kant, who set the terms of the debate in 1784. Kant depicted the promise of enlightenment as that of thinking on one's own authority, whereby human reason would lead to freedom and progress. We then consider the legacy of this promise in the work of Kant's successors, Hegel, Marx, Heidegger, Arendt, Adorno and Horkheimer. Central questions include: what is 'thinking for oneself'? What are the dangers of faith in reason? Can we rescue the Enlightenment?

Course programme

Friday 15 April 2016

Please plan to arrive between 16:30 and 18:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which opens at 18:15. Tea and coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms.

19:00 Dinner
20:30 The Promise of Enlightenment
22:00 Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Saturday 16 April 2016

07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Kant
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Hegel
12:30 Free
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Free
16:00 Tea
16:30 Marx
18:30 Dinner
20:00 Heidegger
21:30 Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Sunday 17 April 2016

07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Arendt
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Adorno and Horkheimer
12:30 Free
12:45 Lunch

The course will disperse after lunch.