Contemporary philosophy developed throughout the 18th century. The philosophical milestone of this period was the French Revolution, which raised reflection on class differences in society.
This period reflects the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is important to note that this period is prior to the so-called “postmodern philosophy”, since this would have been incorporated, for some authors, into contemporary conceptions.
Contemporary philosophy and the times lived
During this period, the consolidation of capitalism was the great support for reflection. With the English Industrial Revolution, the beginning of the 18th century became a period of great social inequality.
Human labor began to be exploited with long work days. Although technological, scientific and marketing advances are on the horizon, society is beginning to be unequal.
This is how discoveries were made. Electricity, the use of oil as a raw material, coal as an energy resource, the automobile, the telephone, etc. Countless technologies end up being invented and the progress of society as a whole was evident.
With this advance, machines end up automating industrial production and manual human force is replaced. Scientific and technological progress spreads as the center of the era.
Contemporary philosophy arrives as a way to consolidate what at the time they called “class consciousness.”
Characteristics of contemporary philosophy
The Cultural Industry and the Frankfurt School were some of the important currents that emerged alongside contemporary philosophy. The features mainly cover:
- Pragmatism
- Scientism
- Nihilism
- Positivism
- Utilitarianism
- Rationalism
- Idealism
- Liberalism
- Phenomenology
- The subjectivity
- Pluralism
Among these features, there are two currents that stand out a lot as characteristics. Marxism, from the German philosopher Karl Marx, and existentialism, from Jean-Paul Sartré.
The two currents were correlated, although they were different concepts. While Marxism stressed the need for class struggle, existentialism preached freedom. They both provided themselves with a little of each for their promotion.
Contemporary and postmodern philosophy
In the middle of the 20th century, the panorama, as well as the historical context, changes. A unique moment of uncertainty begins to emerge.
The contradictions, doubts and reflections generated by the recent past, at that time, begin to guide contemporary philosophers.
Therefore, the events of the current century ended up becoming essential to adhere to the vision of “human beings as beings.”
The two world wars (the postwar period), the nuclear attacks, Nazism and fascism, as well as the clash between capitalism and communism. All of these factors have triggered numerous problems already experienced in the past.
The social inequality that expanded, the poor distribution of income and the degradation of the environment due to progress. In this way, contemporary philosophy is considered postmodern.
Ultimately, these new guiding questions began to form the questions thought by those who reflect the present. The crisis, thus mentioned by contemporary philosophy, revolved around the “crisis of contemporary man.”
Among these questions were:
- The Darwinian revolution (origin of species) in decline towards creationism
- Evolution of Freudianism (the school of psychoanalysis begins to be more studied and deepened)
- The Copernican revolution and the end of geocentrism
- Einstein and the proposed theory of relativity
All of these cases became part of new themes that no longer included the industrial revolution, the Church and the aristocracy. For this reason, postmodernism is committed to reflecting on an advance of what was observed in contemporary philosophy.
Contemporary Philosophy
Contemporary philosophy developed throughout the 18th century. The philosophical milestone of this period was the French Revolution, which raised reflection on class differences in society.
This period reflects the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is important to note that this period is prior to the so-called “postmodern philosophy”, since this would have been incorporated, for some authors, into contemporary conceptions.
Contemporary philosophy and the times lived
During this period, the consolidation of capitalism was the great support for reflection. With the English Industrial Revolution, the beginning of the 18th century became a period of great social inequality.
Human labor began to be exploited with long work days. Although technological, scientific and marketing advances are on the horizon, society is beginning to be unequal.
This is how discoveries were made. Electricity, the use of oil as a raw material, coal as an energy resource, the automobile, the telephone, etc. Countless technologies end up being invented and the progress of society as a whole was evident.
With this advance, machines end up automating industrial production and manual human force is replaced. Scientific and technological progress spreads as the center of the era.
Contemporary philosophy arrives as a way to consolidate what at the time they called “class consciousness.”
Characteristics of contemporary philosophy
The Cultural Industry and the Frankfurt School were some of the important currents that emerged alongside contemporary philosophy. The features mainly cover:
- Pragmatism
- Scientism
- Nihilism
- Positivism
- Utilitarianism
- Rationalism
- Idealism
- Liberalism
- Phenomenology
- The subjectivity
- Pluralism
Among these features, there are two currents that stand out a lot as characteristics. Marxism, from the German philosopher Karl Marx, and existentialism, from Jean-Paul Sartré.
The two currents were correlated, although they were different concepts. While Marxism stressed the need for class struggle, existentialism preached freedom. They both provided themselves with a little of each for their promotion.
Contemporary and postmodern philosophy
In the middle of the 20th century, the panorama, as well as the historical context, changes. A unique moment of uncertainty begins to emerge.
The contradictions, doubts and reflections generated by the recent past, at that time, begin to guide contemporary philosophers.
Therefore, the events of the current century ended up becoming essential to adhere to the vision of “human beings as beings.”
The two world wars (the postwar period), the nuclear attacks, Nazism and fascism, as well as the clash between capitalism and communism. All of these factors have triggered numerous problems already experienced in the past.
The social inequality that expanded, the poor distribution of income and the degradation of the environment due to progress. In this way, contemporary philosophy is considered postmodern.
Ultimately, these new guiding questions began to form the questions thought by those who reflect the present. The crisis, thus mentioned by contemporary philosophy, revolved around the “crisis of contemporary man.”
Among these questions were:
- The Darwinian revolution (origin of species) in decline towards creationism
- Evolution of Freudianism (the school of psychoanalysis begins to be more studied and deepened)
- The Copernican revolution and the end of geocentrism
- Einstein and the proposed theory of relativity
All of these cases became part of new themes that no longer included the industrial revolution, the Church and the aristocracy. For this reason, postmodernism is committed to reflecting on an advance of what was observed in contemporary philosophy.