The faces of the Enlighten-ment. The eighteenth century seen by Foucault

Abstract

Due to its political, social, cultural and economic implications the Enlightenment was a milestone in the history of humanity. Kant said that this historical event could be understood as the time in which society becomes age of majority. In other words, the time in which the society leaves old fanaticism and has the courage to use its own understanding. This article will address the interpretations that have marked the reception of this historical event in the academy in order to point out the particularity of Fou-cault’s reflection about this event.