A635.1.3.RB - 21st Century Enlightenment

A635.1.3.RB - 21st Century Enlightenment

Matthew Taylor’s 21st Century Enlightenment (Taylor, 2010) came at a very interesting time. I know this is a leadership (business) class, but this video is a statement to what society is facing today. Taylor refers to The Enlightenment Age, also known as the Age of Reason, when he titled his video 21st Century Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that took place primarily in Europe and, later, in North America, during the late 17th and early 18th century. Its participants thought they were illuminating human intellect and culture after the "dark" Middle Ages. (Hennig, 2015) Characteristics of the Enlightenment include the rise of concepts such as reason, liberty and the scientific method.

(Taylor, 2010) suggested that in the 21^st Century we alter our thought process, in turn, we could alter our actions. This what I believe (Taylor, 2010) meant when he said "to live differently, you have to think differently". Individuals cannot expect to be a creator of change if the actions they are taking now are not resulting in change. This is something that truly hits home for me, I am a product of the intercity. Growing up in that environment my thinking and outlook on life and my future was only in the moment. It took people in my life to guide me and show me that I had "to live differently, you have to think differently".

(Taylor, 2010) argues that we need "to resist our tendencies to make right or true that which is merely familiar and wrong or false that which is only strange". This means to me is if change is the goal then we must consciously create the change we need. This can be done many ways by many different people, you just must want it, think it, and do it. That is how social change happens. The statement "to resist our tendencies to make right or true that which is merely familiar and wrong or false that which is only strange" means most people do not like change, they would rather nobody upset the status quo so that life continues without change.

Society should eschew elements of pop culture that degrade people and that we should spend more time considering what develops empathetic citizens. This is a great statement. How can society when we are lead and governed by leaders that don’t avoid this, but relish in it. would need to set aside the more selfish elements of their lives and instead focus on the greater good of mankind. Eschewing the elements of pop culture that degrade others would certainly lead to a more equal world for all. Empathy does seem to be the key. If people could only care for others as much as they care for themselves the world would be a better and happier place for all.

After watching this video, it gives ideas and thoughts on what it would take to make my team, department, company, and even my community better. The narrator use of words and phrase like “eschew elements of pop culture”, “develops empathetic citizens”, and “atomizing people from collaborative environments” made me think and analyze what more I need to learn and do to make my mark in my community.

Works Cited

Brown, D. R. (2011). An Experiential Approach to organization Development. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Hennig, A. (2015). Between conflict and cooperation: Religion and politics in europe. Palestine - Israel Journal of Politics, Economics, and Culture, 121-128.

Taylor, M. (2010, August 19). RSA ANIMATE: 21st Century Enlightenment. Retrieved from YouTube: https://youtu.be/AC7ANGMy0yo