“An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump”
Joseph Wright of Derby, 1768
What exactly is going on in this painting?
An ecclectic group of people is gathered around the table: formal-looking men in the foreground and rear, intermingled with children on the right and, presumably, young lovers on the left. Perhaps a family, with some guests. The figures frame a device in the center of the painting for which it is named—a vacuum air pump, strikingly housing a dove within. The presence of the cage in the upper-right seems to indicate that the bird is a pet, as the children avert their gazes in horror and despair. The men, however, look on in contemplative awe—curiosity and intrigue overcoming any sense of trepidation.
What will happen? Will the bird panic in fright? Will it calmly accept its circumstance? If it does struggle, will it be able to fly? How long until its final breath is forced out of its lungs?
This painting captures the ethos of the Enlightenment. Humanity was riding in the wake of the Renaissance, and was on the verge of a whole new revolution in socio-cultural development. The Enlightenment was rooted in classical humanistic ideals, with such notions that educated humanity can overcome any obstacle, and solve all problems through logic, reason, and experience as the ultimate authority. In this painting, the scientists are revered with halo-like auras, previously endowed only to pietous saints of faith.
Proponents of the Enlightenment called themselves philosophes, and believed that universal laws existed for every realm of human life. The goals were to educate individuals, seek out new knowledge, and classify known facts in an orderly manner. 
One project that galvanized these ideals was the Encyclopédie. It’s stated goal was to be “a systematic analysis of the order and interrelations of human knowledge,” and was a gargantuan 35-volumes.
It is the Enlightenment that stemmed such concepts as libertarian freedom, democratic government, free market capitalist economies, and the rise of the scientific method. These same ideas are still with us today, and form the underpinnings that support nearly our entire societal infrastructure.
But while these principles have been adopted nearly wholesale, to what degree should the Christian assimilate and appropriate these ideals? While the Bible is silent from speaking explicitly on such topics as socio-economic theory, what inferences can we draw from the biblical narrative that speaks to these issues?
I will leave these questions open-ended for discussion, for now, as I have a followup post (or two) in mind that can bring more to this conversation. But here is a starting point to begin—a prolegomena, if you will. But as we observe this painting, what are we really seeing? What are the ethical dimensions of this scientific inquiry that need to be explored? And as certain ethical limitations are seemingly cast aside, at what cost does this exploration and pursuit of knowledge bring to bear? How is this painting allegorical to the underlying philosophical ideals that are ushered in with the Enlightenment as a whole?
[...] to Enlightenment Philosophy I have a new post up over at dust and light titled “Prolegomena: A Primer on the Enlightenment”. It’s basically an introduction to Enlightenment philosophy, and its influences on society [...]
Americans (and even westerns as a whole) think that their ideas and way of life are are the best and should prevail and govern how we live – it happens in mission, church life, business, art, science, etc. Right? Thus, capitalism, democracy, etc, are the best, right? And those two, especially, govern church life and mission. I think it is sad.
I am not saying any of these are evil, and even recognize that democracy and a free market economy are helpful, but we can not let the way we live be determined by these specific philosophies, but rather the kingdom rule of God. The Scripture does not always speak into these situations, but it does give truth principles to help guide our thinking even in regards to the other areas it is ‘silent’ on.
Good questions, Chach.
I like the blog, and wish that I had more to add to the discussion. However, as I am still introducing myself to a lot of these sorts of issues, I will probably only offer more questions. I will attempt a response anyway, and would encourage my ideas to be quickly dismissed if ill-founded.
I guess from my understanding of the things that were ushered in during the Enlightenment have gained such domination over the societal structure largely because they come under the guise of neutrality. I would echo the suggestions I have gathered from my limited reading, which is largely, if not entirely, made up of J.K.A. Smith, which is that this neutrality and objectivity needs to be challenged so that the underlying ‘telos’ can be addressed. In addressing the underlying humanistic ego of the Enlightenment, its praise of the individual mind, neutral and universal reason, freedom and liberty (I liked what Simon had to see regarding freedom), and even the apparent invincibility of the scientific method, I think we might find it is in stark contradiction with even perhaps the most basic, if not most important, theological understanding of God as creator and man as his creation. It’s deep embedding within the Western world has found the triumphant educated mind of man in an attempt to do away with God entirely, and to me the most dangerous element is it’s secretive, and well disguised, advance under the notion of the neutral secular sector of politics.
This also gives birth to my concern for the increasing role governments are assuming over not merely the public sector, but also the private sector (if there can be such a split?), as they dictate what is right and wrong from what to buy, to what to teach your children. And again, this dictation comes not from an authoritative dictator which can be rebelled against, rather it comes right up from the bottom of ‘neutral’ rationality answering all of life’s problems. (might be too generalized as far as government go, but I would argue that the UK certainly exercises such a role, and that the US seems to be following).
Garrett— “the things that were ushered in during the Enlightenment have gained such domination over the societal structure largely because they come under the guise of neutrality. [...] it is in stark contradiction with even perhaps the most basic, if not most important, theological understanding of God as creator and man as his creation.”
Hi Garrett, thanks for joining us =D. Yeah, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Simon suggested perhaps running a series of posts off of my Enlightenment intro, where we can explore more of these influences that the church has absorbed, whether unwittingly or not.
I know that my next post is going to contrast Biblical historiography with Enlightenment-inspired notions of historiography, and how we can better shape our understanding of our doctrines of scripture and revelation.
“This also gives birth to my concern for the increasing role governments are assuming over not merely the public sector, but also the private sector (if there can be such a split?), as they dictate what is right and wrong from what to buy, to what to teach your children.”
I might lean in a different direction on this point. I think even our notions of the “private sector” and where government can and cannot legislate is similarly shaped by our cultural roots in libertarian freedom .
I really appreciate hearing your thoughts though, Garrett =D. You should stick around and keep brainstorming with us ;-D.
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[...] of the Bible across all of time and history is the epistemology inherited from modernity. Modernity’s self-proclaimed “Enlightenment” emphasized the ultimate supremacy of reason and logic, which is neutral, unbiased, objective, and [...]