What is Enlightened Reason? The root of enlightenment means to "make clear by light" or "to become illuminated". Combining this with reason, we find Enlightened Reason is simply "the quality of rational judgment enabled by a clarity of perception and cognition".
In the words of Immanuel Kant: "Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another."Have courage to use your own understanding!"--that is the motto of enlightenment."
In short, Enlightened Reason is the practice of clear thinking and sound judgment unimpeded by dogmatic beliefs, superstition, and supernaturalism. Enlightened Reason can be viewed as a more wakeful state of consciousness that allows us to remain mindfully aware of the objective reality we inhabit. Enlightened Reason also embraces the inalienable ideals and movements that began in the 18th century and continue to this day--ideals such as freedom and democracy, human rights and equality, the progress of science, and ethics based on these values rather than religiously imposed morality.
For more on the concept of Enligthened Reason, please read here.
Areas of Interests
The subject of Enlightened Reason covers a broad range of interests. These areas of interest include science, ethics, philosophy, basic world-views, and yes, even spirituality. Please follow the links below to read more on Enlightened Reason as it pertains to these areas of interest.