Reactionarism closes the door: revisiting Kant's Aufklärung and the conflict of the faculties in the age of post-truth

Medina Polo S.A.; Willems B.; Ayala-Colqui J.; Camargo-Castillo J. · Intellectuals in the 21st Century: Reconfiguring Ideologies and Global Struggles Against the Elitization of Knowledge (2026) · DOI: 10.4324/9781003711568-22

Resumen

This chapter explores the challenges that post-truth politics and reactionary populism pose to Enlightenment ideals. It examines how public discourse has shifted from reason toward emotion and misinformation. Revisiting Kant’s What Is Enlightenment? and The Conflict of the Faculties, the authors assess the relevance and limits of his thought. Engaging with Plato, Villacañas, and Nussbaum, the chapter emphasizes that truth relies on communication and ethical responsibility. Finally, it considers pedagogical alternatives by Garcés and Keating, advocating for a renewed Enlightenment grounded in relational thinking, vulnerability, and dialogue in the face of growing ideological polarization.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur