The Age of PROGRESS and MODERNITY, Explained [AP Euro Review—Unit 7 Topic 5]

Summary

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, scientific advancements in Europe challenged religious beliefs and traditional views of the world. The rise of positivism, which argued that truth could only be known through science and math, created a tension with Christianity. Philosophers like Nietzsche and Bergson championed irrationalism, emphasizing human instincts and intuitive knowledge over rational thought. Meanwhile, Freud's psychoanalysis revealed the subconscious influence on behavior. These shifts, including the breakdown of Newtonian physics, marked the emergence of modernism, as society grappled with a more chaotic and unpredictable view of reality.

Takeaways

• 😀 The rise of positivism in the 19th century emphasized that truth can only be scientifically verified or mathematically quantified, challenging religious beliefs based on divine revelation.
• 😀 Positivism conflicted with Christianity, which held that the truest truths come from God, not scientific observation or mathematical proof.
• 😀 The conflict between science and religion led to a growing relativism in moral values, where truth became subjective and relative to each person's perspective.
• 😀 The concept of relativism is illustrated by the blind men describing an elephant, where each has a different view and no one knows the 'true' nature of the elephant.
• 😀 Modernism emerged as the overarching term for the tension between scientific advancements and the uncertainty they introduced about universal truths.
• 😀 Philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche and Henri Bergson championed irrationalism, arguing that human life and decisions could not be explained by rationality alone, focusing instead on human instinct and intuition.
• 😀 Nietzsche famously declared that 'God is dead' and blamed Christianity for stifling human creativity and growth, suggesting that humanity's liberation could only happen outside of religious constraints.
• 😀 Bergson believed science was useful for practical knowledge but inadequate for understanding the essence of true reality, which could only be experienced intuitively.
• 😀 Sigmund Freud applied irrationalism to psychology, claiming that human behavior is largely shaped by unconscious drives and childhood traumas, rather than rational decision-making.
• 😀 Advances in quantum mechanics, particularly by Max Planck, showed that atoms behaved unpredictably, undermining Newtonian physics and introducing chaos and uncertainty at the atomic level.

Q & A

What was the philosophical idea behind positivism?

Positivism is the belief that truth can only be known through scientific and mathematical verification. If something cannot be verified scientifically or mathematically, it is not considered true.

How did the rise of positivism challenge Christianity?

Positivism posed a challenge to Christianity by asserting that truth comes from scientific investigation and mathematical proof, while Christianity teaches that truth is revealed by God, which cannot be scientifically verified.

What does relativism mean in the context of modernism?

Relativism, as part of modernism, suggests that truth is subjective and can vary between individuals, as opposed to the idea of universal, objective truth. What is true for one person may not be true for another.

What role did Friedrich Nietzsche play in the development of irrationalism?

Nietzsche was a key figure in the development of irrationalism, arguing that human beings are governed more by their passions and instincts than by rational thought. He also famously declared that 'God is dead,' claiming that Christianity had stifled creativity and freedom.

How did Henri Bergson view the relationship between science and reality?

Henri Bergson believed that science could provide practical knowledge, such as understanding physical laws, but he argued that it was inadequate for understanding deeper aspects of reality, which could only be experienced intuitively.

What was Sigmund Freud’s contribution to psychology?

Sigmund Freud introduced the concept that human behavior is largely influenced by the subconscious, shaped by childhood experiences. He developed psychoanalysis as a method to trace these subconscious influences and understand human decisions.

What did Freud mean by the subconscious and its impact on decision-making?

Freud argued that people’s decisions and behaviors are often shaped by repressed childhood traumas stored in the subconscious mind, rather than being governed by conscious, rational thought.

How did Max Planck’s work in physics challenge Newtonian physics?

Max Planck's discovery of quantum mechanics, which revealed that atoms radiate energy in unpredictable packets called 'quanta,' challenged Newtonian physics by showing that the atomic level of reality is chaotic and unpredictable, rather than following rigid, predetermined laws.

How did Planck’s quantum mechanics affect the concept of a predictable universe?

Planck’s quantum mechanics undermined the Newtonian view of a predictable and orderly universe by demonstrating that, at the atomic level, reality behaves in an unpredictable and chaotic manner, leading to a reevaluation of how the universe can be understood.

What is the significance of the growing tension between science and traditional religious views in the 19th century?

The growing tension between science and religion during the 19th century highlighted the conflict between scientific discoveries, which often contradicted religious teachings, and the widespread belief in Christianity. This tension was central to the development of modernism, which questioned the certainty of traditional truths.