Final answer:
The Enlightenment period is notable for applying scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of humans. Francis Bacon and John Locke were key figures in cultivating this philosophy. Later epochs, like the 19th and 20th centuries, continued to develop this approach, leading to fields like critical theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The literary philosophy that attempted to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beings was mainly associated with the Enlightenment period. Enlightenment thinkers, such as Francis Bacon and John Locke, believed in empirical study and observation as the basis for gaining knowledge. This often involved the application of scientific methods and principles to the study of humanity.
The Greek classical period is also significant as it marked the birth of science and philosophy. However, it was during the modern period particularly that the tension between supernaturalism and naturalism became quite relevant. This was a period where humanistic views were challenged, and advances were made across disciplines through a shift towards scientific methodologies and away from a priori reasoning.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, there were new challenges to empirical reasoning in scholarship. The use of science and technology as an instrument of knowledge to understand and control nature, became central, leading to the development of various fields including hermeneutics, phenomenology, and critical theory. The principles of objectivity and detachment, central to scientific inquiry, were applied to a study of human beings, giving a new direction to social theories.
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