Modernity An Unfinished Project

Abstract

The project of modernity, as formulated by the philosophers of the Enlightenment in the 18th century, consists of the relentless development of the objectivizing sciences, of the universalistic foundations of morality and law, and of autonomous art, all in accord with their own immanent logic. But at the same time it also results in releasing the cognitive potentials accumulated in the process from their esoteric high forms and attempting to apply them in the sphere of praxis, that is, to encourage the rational organization of social relations.