Descartes On Modernity

The pivotal effect of modernity spans from everything to a new and skeptical perception on things to an increasing role of science and technology. Modernity is essentially the antithesis of its predecessor; pre-modernity. While pre-modernity values the divine over the individual, modernity values the individual and reason. Modernity is often perceived as the promise of human progress through solely reason and knowledge. Michael Allen Gillespie in ‘The Theological Origins of Modernity’ summarises the concept of modernity by stating; “To be modern means to be “new”, to be an unprecedented event in the flow of time, a first beginning, something different than anything that has come before, a novel way of being in the world, …show more content…
Descartes is often contributed to being the father of modern philosophy due to him revolutionizing philosophy and science with a new and more skeptical approach. Additionally, Descartes ushered the people into a break with Scholastic philosophy with his skeptical methodology he provided. Descartes perceived the train of Scholastic thought as deceiving, as they relied solely on senses. This led to Rene to disregard any belief that was liable to doubt, leading him to disregard everything with the only exception being belief of his own existence. Rene’s renewed methodology provided the foundation for the modern approach to scientific and philosophical reasoning. Modernity ushered and molded the world into a new and more rational era. Due to this, modernity is often perceived as the secularization of society and disregardment of tradition. Additionally it is commonly thought to rebuff all that is ‘old’ as it was irrational. Of course, disposing all established traditions, thoughts in religion would wreak general havoc on society. As the philosopher George Santayana stated; “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat