How did Enlightenment philosophers both defend and contribute to this cultural development?

Write an essay in which you express and defend your views on the following issues:

  • Consider the rise of modern science during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
    • How did Enlightenment philosophers both defend and contribute to this cultural development?
    • How did elements of scientific reasoning alter conceptions of the origin and limits of human knowledge?
  • Explain the difference between intrinsic and instrumental goods and how modern science embodies an instrumental approach to the relationship between human beings and the natural world.
    • Is recognition of our proper place in the context of a vast and ancient universe an essential insight?
    • How does it affect our understanding of ourselves?
  • Consider how philosophical and scientific reasoning make a difference to our daily lives. (Of course we all benefit from technological advances that came from these ways of thinking, but that is not the point here.)
    • In what situations or circumstances of ordinary life is it appropriate to apply philosophical or scientific thinking to seek a solution, resolve a conflict, or make a decision? Imagine you are invited to contribute a post on this topic to a blog about philosophy, like those that appear in The New York Times blog The Stone, the What Is it Like to be a Woman in Philosophy? blog from WordPress, or Philosophy Now magazine.
    • How would you argue for (or against) the use of philosophical reasoning in everyday life?
Additional Requirements
  • Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
  • APA formatting: Your paper should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
  • Length: 4–6 typed and double-spaced pages.
  • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.