Enlightenment Science and Globalization

Abstract

An important intellectual challenge posed by globalization is how Enlightenment science interacts with traditional non-Western worldviews. This essay analyzes a key facet this challenge: the union of Darwinism with traditional conservative values. Political scientist Larry Amhart proposes that Darwinism provides a biological fouruiation for conservative notions of human nature, traditional morality, family values, private property, limited govemment, and the like. A foundation for his view is an Enlightenment claim that the laws of nature arui material causes are sufficient to produce "emergent" human minds capable of the kind of free will consistent with moral responsibility. Yet Amhart's stance implies determinism of the mind and the disintegration of morality. As such, members of the global community who hold conservative values need to re-examine the parameters of Enlightenment science in light of a more traditional view, which has a richer understanding of the human mind, will, and moral responsibility.