Cliché opinions regarding modern European history have not changed much in our country, despite the innovations in contemporary historiography. Fatih Durgun presents a different perspective on the fundamental issues of European history from the Enlightenment to the end of the 19th century, taking into account new approaches in European historiography.

“One of the most prominent marks left by the Enlightenment and the 19th century on European history is that progressivism and rationalism led to an absolute faith in the sciences over time. The development of human ability to control nature, along with scientific and technical progress, transformed into an unshakable belief among scientists in the objectivity of their work and what could be gained from science. On the other hand, it caused states to try to benefit from science to the maximum extent and to support scientific studies. Thus, the 19th century witnessed the birth of state-controlled science, the concept of the scientist, and the approach of scientism. Science and the scientistic approach, which established its authority and reputation on even firmer grounds with the Second Industrial Revolution, also led to the formation of many new disciplines in both natural and social sciences. The effectiveness of the scientistic approach became so palpable that in some religious circles, efforts to establish a reconciliation between religion and science became the preferred way to legitimize religious thought.”