The Last Days of the Enlightenment: The Past, Present, and Future of the Enlightenment Ideal

The dawn of the 21st century represents the last days of the Enlightenment, that great philosophical movement that gave birth to the modern world. In the United States, in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, the institutions spawned by Enlightenment doctrine are breaking down. Capitalist oligarchs have reached the stage of outright looting, and care not if either nation collapses into violence, because the oligarchs can leave. Fascism, fear, and dehumanization are on the rise in both nations as the capitalist economy has become nothing more than a suction hose to steal the labor and wealth of the average person. Mega-corporations exercise monopolistic control over whole sections of the economy, in direct violation of Adam Smith’s vision. The list of horror goes on, in the wake of Trump and COVID. 

In The Last Days of the Enlightenment, Dr. Lynch examines the nature of government, of the economy, and of the oligarchs that sit atop abusive hierarchies almost everywhere. The failures of the Constitution, of political leaders, and economic philosophies are identified, and solutions offered. The time to let go of the past has come. Humanity must abandon failed doctrines and work together to build a greater future, a future like that presented in Star Trek. Dr. Lynch is a proponent of a United Earth, and of humanity redirecting its energies to outer space exploration and settlement.

Once we stop shooting at each other, we can start shooting for the stars!
 

The Last Days of the Enlightenment: Commentaries on the End of an Age features:

• Questions for student consideration in each section

• Glossary of political and economic terms

• Bolded Knowledge Terms grouped by section for each chapter

• Side Notes for further explanation

• A chapter on the need for information literacy

• Suggested Readings & Resources

• Documents section with historically-important documents concerning rights & government

• "Reinvigorate the Enlightenment" ideal...this title rediscovers it & revives its main point