In the Enlightenment concept of the self, certain concepts are central:
- autonomy, or self-governance;
- reason;
- Aristotle’s concept of eudaemonia, translated as human flourishing.
Epistemologically, the project adopts an empirical approach, based on observation of the senses.
Revealed truths, declarations based on religious scripture, claims grounded on clerical or political authority, received traditions – these are not held to be sound bases for the discovery of knowledge about the self.
The Enlightenment applies recently-emerged scientific method to questions concerning the means and ends of human life.
8.1 Autonomy
Autonomy is a central concept in the Enlightenment concept of the self.
Autonomy != satisfaction of desire
Rather, a being with autonomy is self-governing.
A being that is governed entirely by its desires and appetites is not self-governing.(Ref: Plato’s Republic.)
8.2 Reason
8.3 Flourishing
A translation of Aristotle’s eudaemonia, human flourishing is the proper end of human life. It involves the realization of potential.
Eudaemodia is not the same as “happiness”, and certainly not the same as pleasure, or the satisfaction of desire.
When Jefferson wrote of human’s unalienable right to “the pursuit of happiness”, eudaemonia is what he had in mind.
