Modernity: Origins?
From the beginning of Christianity to the Protestant Reformation, philosophers and theologians unite in their attempt to make sense of our purpose, God, and this life. Modernity is fundamentally the same, with the desire to bring about the best form of life to the present moment. Yet, in looking to the past and their current crisis, modernity aims to find purpose specifically through human means (Strauss, 82). The origins of modernity developed throughout the decades, and countless individuals (named and unnamed) contributed to this new way of thought. As Strauss indicates, there is no chronological pathway in which modernity developed (83); instead, it is a combination and patchwork of influential philosophers and thinkers coming together to form what we understand as modernity.
Leo Strauss, in his book, The Three Waves of Modernity, states that we cannot hold Nietzche accountable for fascism and Rousseau for Jacobinism (98). There is no clear distinction between individual thought/philosophy and political regimes. However, it appears as though the influential thinkers directly or indirectly result from thought before them. We can argue that the origins of modernity began long ago at the time of our first philosopher, Socrates. He led us to question authority to more fully understand underlying meaning, as we see in all subsequent philosophers, precisely when Machiavelli questioned the traditional political philosophy of his time (Strauss, 84). At the same time, we can say that the work of Plato and Aristotle has all led to the development of modernity. Critical philosophers of modernity such as Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Nietzche either agree or counter the work of Plato and Aristotle. Machiavelli affirms Plato's understanding of chance and circumstance (Strauss, 84). At the same time, Rousseau emphasizes Aristotle's thought in returning to our nature, and Nietzche furthers Plato's Republic and the use of human power to cease all evil on earth (Strauss, 82). Philosophers are known to emphasize, counter, or adapt the work of their predecessors.
The philosophers who came after Plato and Aristotle, and before the period of modernity, were philosophers and theologians such as Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. They expanded and adapted Plato and Aristotle's works, such as emphasizing the use of reason. This concentration of works led to the further development of philosophers such as Machiavelli's focus on "direction towards an end" as influenced by Aristotle and Aquinas (Strauss, 85) (Hill, 153), and Nietzche's focus on the use of human reason (Strauss, 92).
It is unreasonable to identify the origins of modernity directly. Modernity has fundamentally been originating since the beginning of time. It is a continual progression of the development of thought and understanding of existence. The myriad of philosophers, thinkers, theologians, individuals before modernity have all contributed to the central features of modernity, along with the cultural influences and tensions of the time. The origins of modernity are throughout history.
Leo Strauss, in his book, The Three Waves of Modernity, states that we cannot hold Nietzche accountable for fascism and Rousseau for Jacobinism (98). There is no clear distinction between individual thought/philosophy and political regimes. However, it appears as though the influential thinkers directly or indirectly result from thought before them. We can argue that the origins of modernity began long ago at the time of our first philosopher, Socrates. He led us to question authority to more fully understand underlying meaning, as we see in all subsequent philosophers, precisely when Machiavelli questioned the traditional political philosophy of his time (Strauss, 84). At the same time, we can say that the work of Plato and Aristotle has all led to the development of modernity. Critical philosophers of modernity such as Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Nietzche either agree or counter the work of Plato and Aristotle. Machiavelli affirms Plato's understanding of chance and circumstance (Strauss, 84). At the same time, Rousseau emphasizes Aristotle's thought in returning to our nature, and Nietzche furthers Plato's Republic and the use of human power to cease all evil on earth (Strauss, 82). Philosophers are known to emphasize, counter, or adapt the work of their predecessors.
The philosophers who came after Plato and Aristotle, and before the period of modernity, were philosophers and theologians such as Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. They expanded and adapted Plato and Aristotle's works, such as emphasizing the use of reason. This concentration of works led to the further development of philosophers such as Machiavelli's focus on "direction towards an end" as influenced by Aristotle and Aquinas (Strauss, 85) (Hill, 153), and Nietzche's focus on the use of human reason (Strauss, 92).
It is unreasonable to identify the origins of modernity directly. Modernity has fundamentally been originating since the beginning of time. It is a continual progression of the development of thought and understanding of existence. The myriad of philosophers, thinkers, theologians, individuals before modernity have all contributed to the central features of modernity, along with the cultural influences and tensions of the time. The origins of modernity are throughout history.
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