Search

Reason and rationality, as categories which make up doctrinal systems, constitute exceptionally valuable research material for a political scientist, since the way of defining these two notions and also their placement in general doctrinal system allow for obtaining an answer to fundamental questions concerning the heart, essence of the political concept under study. The article merely outlines the changes which have taken place in the European reflection over human and state under the influence of, or due to the popularization of political averroism; that is the view according to which reason should be liberated from moral and religious diktat. As a result of the way initiated by Machiavelli, and developed by Descartes, Hobbes, Rousseau, Kant and Hegel, reason became above all an effective tool and instrument for realizing good in utilitarian and individual (subjective)dimension. Thereby, reason ceased leading man towards the virtue of wisdom (and justice); wisdom was replaced with knowledge.