21st Century Enlightenment

Matthew Taylor delivers an insight into the necessity of changing the way we view ourselves, our place in this world, and what it is going to take for us, as a civilized global community, to move towards a better tomorrow. His presentation titled 21st Century Enlightenment presents his audience with sensible concepts on how to recognize our current values, norms, and lifestyles in order to become a more self aware, socially embodied community, and the need to be more responsible as members of a global sociology.

Matthew relates some similarities to the Enlightenment period of the 18th Century to our current rapidly changing world by establishing the fact that a small group of free-thinkers discovered new and radical ideas rooted in sound theories and scientific foundations. People like Newton, Copernicus, and Galileo reshaped the way we view our roles in the universe through observation and logical thought processes. It was in these discoveries that the entire world began to change the way they thought about themselves and opened their minds to new methods perceiving what we believe to be true. New norms, values, and lifestyles emerged from the discoveries of these few historical figures. Different thoughts effectively changed the way people learned and ultimately lived within their known world.

Matthew believes that "In order to live differently, you have to think differently". He believes that any significant change in our society begins with what and how we think. How we view immigration, political authority, inclusion of religious ideals, and civil solidarity will inevitably shape our actions creating norms, values, and lifestyles. He states that we must move into a more global concept of empathy where we take into consideration the real and important power of understanding each other on a global scale. We are a culmination of what we think and how we act as a society, and making a conscious effort to rethink our own beliefs and values will help us to form a better community as a whole.

Taylor 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. Because we may not fully understand our own cultural norms and values completely, or those of another culture does not make these beliefs sound doctrine. I believe Matthew is talking about minimizing the weight we give to what we see everyday and employ a more critical thinking process to uncover the reasoning behind our thoughts and beliefs. For example, my organization (the US Navy) is steeped in traditions that may at times stifle or hinder forward progress that could benefit our overall mission to provide a more diverse culture of American Sailors working together for a common goal. Only recently has the Navy reduced some long lasting barriers regarding race, gender, and sexual orientation which has allowed our Sailors to learn from a more broad pool of resources. By changing the way the Navy views the individual Sailor we have become a more formidable force, rich with a diverse culture.

Change on a grand scale never comes easily. To affect change in our minds we must first reduce our prejudices based in misunderstanding. It is easier to change the materialistic than it is to change our idealistic views. However, this is not impossible. becoming more empathetic to other cultures and individual practices can be attained by merely developing a genuine desire to learn about other people, societies, and cultures. Developing the ability to put aside assumptions based on the unknown and replacing them with learned experiences is the first step in creating a more empathetic society.

Summing up Matthew's presentation, he believes that in order to truly create a 21st Century Enlightenment we must discover who we are as human beings, discover who we want to be, and more importantly develop an understanding of what we aspire to be. By establishing these charges each individual can affect change in their sphere of influence. He quotes Margaret Mead who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has". Change starts from within. I have committed myself to be a better thinker, more empathetic to those around me, and to subdue my assumptions based on my past values, norms, and beliefs. Doing this enables me to play my part in changing my thoughts of the world in which I live. We all have an important part to play for a 21st Century Enlightenment to take effect.

Please take the time and watch Matthew Taylor's presentation 21st Century Enlightenment 

JP