Guiding us into the light: A look at modern philosophy

Enlightenment thinking from less that 400 years ago transformed how we think ourselves to be human. JP O’Malley meets Anthony Gottlieb to discuss its ramifications

THE great social theorists of the 19th century, including John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx , gleaned much of their inspiration from the 18th century Enlightenment.

Principally, their understanding of human culture and behaviour was linked to certain assumptions about human progress: where a universal civilisation would flourish and and freedom and liberty would be granted to everyone.