Historicist Critique of Enlightenment

The Historicist critique of the Enlightenment questions the idea that reason and universal principles alone can fully understand human nature and progress. It argues that knowledge is shaped by historical and cultural contexts, so Enlightenment ideas are seen as products of their time rather than absolute truths. This perspective emphasizes that moral values, beliefs, and ideas evolve with history, suggesting we should interpret Enlightenment thinking with awareness of its specific social and cultural origins, rather than treating it as a universally applicable blueprint for progress.