Many assume Enlightenment values will triumph over violence and prejudice. But in the wake of ISIS and a resurgent far-right political movement, victory seems less inevitable and the age of reason less secure. Might history not be on our side after all? Do we need more passion to combat zealotry’s allure or will reason alone win in the end?
In this week’s post from the Institute of Art and Ideas, Philosopher and theologian Christopher Hamilton, author of Contesting the Saudi State, visiting professor at LSE Madawi al-Rasheed, and editor of Spiked Online Brendan O’Neill push reason to the extreme.
This video was produced by The Institute of Art and Ideas and is republished here with permission. It was filmed at HowTheLightGetsIn 2015 alongside 200 other debates and talks, all available for free at IAI TV. Their new podcast, Philosophy for our times, is available here.
