Abstract
Since for the sake of clarity, generalizations and simplifications are at times permissible, it seems justified to stress that Western civilization in the period 1500–1900 focussed its energy upon the development of the intellect rather than upon that of the other attributes of Man. Inherent in this tendency was the magnification of the intellect into an instrument of tremendous importance, seen as capable of gaining complete mastery over life. Knowledge was considered to be the function of the intellect, and it was tacitly or not so tacitly assumed that the extension of knowledge was synonymous with extension of happiness.
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© 1957 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Holland
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Landheer, B. (1957). The Reactions to the Hedonistic Period. In: Pause for Transition. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9365-8_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9365-8_13
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