[agere_contra]

Every generation going back to the start of the 17th century has had it’s “Brights” who believed that they alone understood reality, and that the rest of humanity were benighted superstitious idiots.

Nothing changes.

[jacjmm]

I would argue that it goes back further than that:
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” 1 Corinthians 3:19

[antiRepublicrat]

Every generation going back to the start of the 17th century has had it’s “Brights” who believed that they alone understood reality, and that the rest of humanity were benighted superstitious idiots.

That pretty much describes most religions too. One person's religion is another person's superstition.

[righttackle44]

Every generation going back to the start of the 17th century has had it’s “Brights” who believed that they alone understood reality, and that the rest of humanity were benighted superstitious idiots.

I appreciate your observation. At the time of the writing of the New Testament, the Christians of the time were plagued with gnostics of various sects. John's warning: don't even invite them into your house or you share their error.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Every generation going back to the start of the 17th century has had it’s “Brights” who believed that they alone understood reality,****

As it was pointed out almost one hundred and eighty years ago...

“Pertness and ignorance may ask a question in three lines, which it will cost learning and ingenuity thirty pages to answer, and when this is done, the same question shall be triumphantly asked again next year, as if nothing had ever been written on the subject.”

-—Bishop Horne 1831