"Nasty, Brutish & Short": How the Enlightenment Transformed Our Lives And Gave Us the Modern World
Last semester, the Fall 2016 semester, I was able to be a part of an Honors seminar that traveled to London and Cambridge during the first week of winter break. During our semester at UC, we spent our class time focused on the historical period of the Enlightenment. Over the course of those weeks, we read and discussed the seminal writings from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, and Francis Bacon. Our time in the classroom helped me to understand the progression of the Enlightenment, and it was also incredible to see (some might say, "enlightening") to what extent many of our current constructs for approaching logic, reason, science, and democracy truly do follow from the work and thoughts of philosophers from centuries ago. We also were having these discussions at the height of the 2016 election cycle, which made for an interesting backdrop and a fascinating source of parallels and comparisons.
Those conversations and revelations continued during our time in England. In London, we visited and toured places such as the British Museum and their Enlightenment gallery, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, St. Paul's Cathedral, The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) where we spoke with Matthew Taylor, the RSA's Chief Executive, and The Royal Society. It was amazing to visit so many places of monumental importance to the Enlightenment and that continue to work to support the values of the Enlightenment today.
After a few days in London, we traveled to Cambridge for two days. While our goals of experiencing and learning about the roots of the Enlightenment were the same, Cambridge had an entirely different personality and experience to offer than London. Cambridge was cozy and ethereal, and every room we were in and conversation we had there emphasized the dedication of that community to the values of the Enlightenment, such as approaching the world with logic and reason. In Cambridge, we stayed in the dorms of Trinity College, one of the oldest colleges. Each day we had wonderful discussions and lectures, one on Natural Government with Professor Emma Spray, and another discussion about the history of scientific inquiry with Professor Piers Bursill-Hall--which evolved into a general discussion about the dynamic between Enlightenment ideas and the current political climate.
That conversation was easily my favorite discussion we had on the entirety of the trip, and perhaps even my favorite experience. We sat in Trinity Hall at Cambridge, having afternoon tea and biscuits while engaging in a genuine round table discussion with a mentor of our own professor, who then pushed us and challenged us to examine the current discourse of our generation, and where we thought it could go. It was an experience that I feel challenged me more than others, one that has stuck with me more than others, and one that I would not have been able to have without my classmates, our Professor Terry Grundy, and the University Honors Program.
After returning from Cambridge, we had another night in London. It was great to have one more chance to appreciate everything London has to offer. I was able to visit the London Castle before we all met for our final group dinner at the Over-Seas house. It was wonderful to be able to reflect with everyone, as well as share stories and jokes over a delicious meal. We had certainly grown together as a group and it was a lovely way to end our experience in England.
Those conversations and revelations continued during our time in England. In London, we visited and toured places such as the British Museum and their Enlightenment gallery, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, St. Paul's Cathedral, The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) where we spoke with Matthew Taylor, the RSA's Chief Executive, and The Royal Society. It was amazing to visit so many places of monumental importance to the Enlightenment and that continue to work to support the values of the Enlightenment today.
After a few days in London, we traveled to Cambridge for two days. While our goals of experiencing and learning about the roots of the Enlightenment were the same, Cambridge had an entirely different personality and experience to offer than London. Cambridge was cozy and ethereal, and every room we were in and conversation we had there emphasized the dedication of that community to the values of the Enlightenment, such as approaching the world with logic and reason. In Cambridge, we stayed in the dorms of Trinity College, one of the oldest colleges. Each day we had wonderful discussions and lectures, one on Natural Government with Professor Emma Spray, and another discussion about the history of scientific inquiry with Professor Piers Bursill-Hall--which evolved into a general discussion about the dynamic between Enlightenment ideas and the current political climate.
That conversation was easily my favorite discussion we had on the entirety of the trip, and perhaps even my favorite experience. We sat in Trinity Hall at Cambridge, having afternoon tea and biscuits while engaging in a genuine round table discussion with a mentor of our own professor, who then pushed us and challenged us to examine the current discourse of our generation, and where we thought it could go. It was an experience that I feel challenged me more than others, one that has stuck with me more than others, and one that I would not have been able to have without my classmates, our Professor Terry Grundy, and the University Honors Program.
After returning from Cambridge, we had another night in London. It was great to have one more chance to appreciate everything London has to offer. I was able to visit the London Castle before we all met for our final group dinner at the Over-Seas house. It was wonderful to be able to reflect with everyone, as well as share stories and jokes over a delicious meal. We had certainly grown together as a group and it was a lovely way to end our experience in England.
Final Paper
Our final assignment was to write an essay to reflect on the effects and impact of the Enlightenment, and whether or not we are in the middle of another Enlightenment or if we perhaps need one.
Our final assignment was to write an essay to reflect on the effects and impact of the Enlightenment, and whether or not we are in the middle of another Enlightenment or if we perhaps need one.
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Outreach Project
As a class, we also maintained a blog of all our experience while we traveled.
As a class, we also maintained a blog of all our experience while we traveled.
London and Cambridge 2016 Slideshow: