An extremely important element in the current thinking and psychology of Europeans is the "Enlightenment project" undertaken by large numbers of European intellectuals. The achievements of Newton, Galileo and many other prominent scientists had a dramatic impact on the mind-set of Europe.
A few simple laws could lay bare the secrets of the movements of the stars, and a few observations could upset centuries of beliefs in the central place of man (and his planet) in the universe.
Imagine what progress would be possible if these principles of using observations and fact, and building upon them in the light of reason, were applied on a much larger scale.
Enlightenment thinkers were inspired by fantastic achievements in science and technology. They thought that applying scientific methods in all areas of human thought would lead to a radical improvement in the human condition. All social problems such as wars, famines, disease and misery were due to traditions and superstition.
Opposing tradition and the establishment, encouraging fresh and innovative ways of thinking, and subjecting all ideas to the iron test of reason would lead, they believed, to the improvement of the human race and to "moral progress".
The first and second world wars came as a shock to believers in the Enlightenment project. The scale of violence, barbarism and cruelty of Europeans was easily equal to the worst happenings in the "dark" and unenlightened times before the triumph of reason. Centuries of diligent study and application of scientific methods to shape minds and construct societies did not appear to have improved human beings judged as humans.
Blind faith in progress through application of science was tempered by a dark dose of reality. Warnings that the Enlightenment project might not turn out so well on the human front had been present all along, but the few naysayers had been ignored by the enthusiastic mainstream.
Moral values could not be discovered or established by the scientific method. Everyone saw that morals, integrity and honesty were necessary for civilization. Religion, custom and tradition form the basis for morality. Enlightenment thinkers felt confident they could find alternative bases for a superior morality on the solid foundations of facts and reason.
The farsighted Nietzsche saw much more clearly than his contemporaries the implications of the rejection of religion as superstition, and the magnitude of the task facing Europeans in constructing an alternative basis for morality and human behavior.
He described this in the parable of the madman who claimed that "We have killed God" -- meaning that we Europeans have lost faith in God. He goes on to say this tremendous news has not yet reached the ears of humans, even though they did the deed themselves. That is, the full implications of loss of faith have not been absorbed by European intellectuals, who continue to believe that rational foundations for morality can be found. The implications of living without any basis for morality have not been absorbed.
The 20th century can be viewed as a report card for the Enlightenment project. As recorded by philosopher and ethicist Jonathan Glover in his Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century, the report is not good. Violence, murders, atrocities, destruction of entire cities and large masses of innocent people using deliberately cruel methods have been carried out on a scale never before seen in the annals of history.
Glover writes that the challenge of Nietzsche -- to find an alternative basis for morality -- has not been met, although he continues to be optimistic that a solution may be found. Many authors have written books and articles on the decline of morals in the West, which has been extremely rapid in the past 50 years.
As a small but significant illustrative example, consider the affair of former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Only 20 years before this event, similar scandals could and did bring down governments and end political careers. However, with the erosion of moral values, this affair was dismissed as a personal quirk that was so widespread in society that it would be hypocritical to chastise the leader too severely for it.
According to contemporary conceptions of morality, this is a trivial personal matter, and to take it seriously is the sign of a narrow-minded prude. Clinton's affair is the butt of many jokes and limericks it would be improper to cite here in a public forum.
For us living in the East, there are some very important lessons to be learned from this history of the Enlightenment. Those of us who have absorbed the lessons of the West have learned to consider tradition and religion as inferior to reason and observation -- this lesson permeates all Western thinking, literature and other media.
Especially for Indonesia, it is important to learn to trust our own cultural traditions, instead of blindly imitating the West. Dramatic progress has been made by countries by relying on their native strengths and building on domestic traditions.
The Japanese acquired technology but retained their cultural strengths of trust, loyalty, responsibility and integrity. When they fail to fulfill their responsibilities, their leaders resign from their posts to keep their respect, honor and trust.
We need to develop Indonesia based on its own culture, tradition and norms. The Japanese were faithful to their culture of Kemba Kaizen and South Koreans have been applying their "W Theory" to develop their country. What should Indonesia do? One can think the concept of Gotong Royong (mutual help) to reach Indonesian glory.
Hendri Tanjung is Ph.D. scholar at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), Pakistan. Asad Zaman is a former professor of economics at John Hopkins University, United States, and current professor of economics at IIUI. He can be contacted at asadzaman@alum.mit.edu
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