Immanuel
Kant, 1724-1804, was a German philosopher, and was most well known
for his work in metaphysics. He is responsible for the use of
the word "enlightenment" to describe this age of reason,
though the expression "age of enlightenment" didn't
catch on until later. He also coined the motto of the enlightenment,
"sapere aude" dare to think.
Enlightenment
is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man's
inability to make use of his understanding without direction from
another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not
in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it
without direction from another. Sapere aude! [Dare to think!] "Have
courage to use your own reason!"- that is the motto of enlightenment.
Laziness and cowardice are the reasons
why so great a portion of mankind, after nature has long since discharged
them from external direction (naturaliter maiorennes), nevertheless
remains under lifelong tutelage, and why it is so easy for others
to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so easy not to be
of age. If I have a book which understands for me, a pastor who
has a conscience for me, a physician who decides my diet, and so
forth, I need not trouble myself. I need not think, if I can only
pay - others will easily undertake the irksome work for me.
That the step to competence is held
to be very dangerous by the far greater portion of mankind (and
by the entire fair sex) - quite apart from its being arduous is
seen to by those guardians who have so kindly assumed superintendence
over them. After the guardians have first made their domestic cattle
dumb and have made sure that these placid creatures will not dare
take a single step without the harness of the cart to which they
are tethered, the guardians then show them the danger which threatens
if they try to go alone. Actually, however, this danger is not so
great, for by falling a few times they would finally learn to walk
alone. But an example of this failure makes them timid and ordinarily
frightens them away from all further trials. For
any single individual to work himself out of the life under tutelage
which has become almost his nature is very difficult. He has come
to be fond of his state, and he is for the present really incapable
of making use of his reason, for no one has ever let him try it
out. Statutes and formulas, those mechanical tools of the rational
employment or rather misemployment of his natural gifts, are the
fetters of an everlasting tutelage. Whoever throws them off makes
only an uncertain leap over the narrowest ditch because he is not
accustomed to that kind of free motion. Therefore, there are few
who have succeeded by their own exercise of mind both in freeing
themselves from incompetence and in achieving a steady pace.
But that the public should enlighten
itself is more possible; indeed, if only freedom is granted enlightenment
is almost sure to follow. For there will always be some independent
thinkers, even among the established guardians of the great masses,
who, after throwing off the yoke of tutelage from their own shoulders,
will disseminate the spirit of the rational appreciation of both
their own worth and every man's vocation for thinking for himself.
. . . For this enlightenment,
however, nothing is required but freedom, and indeed the most harmless
among all the things to which this term can properly be applied.
It is the freedom to make public use of one's reason at every point.
But I hear on all sides, "Do not argue!" The Officer says:
"Do not argue but drill!" The tax collector: "Do
not argue but pay!" The cleric: "Do not argue but believe!"
Only one prince in the world [Frederick the Great of Prussia] says,
"Argue as much as you will, and about what you will, but obey!"
Everywhere there is restriction on freedom. . . . If
we are asked , "Do we now live in an enlightened age?"
the answer is, "No ," but we do live in an age of enlightenment.
As things now stand, much is lacking which prevents men from being,
or easily becoming, capable of correctly using their own reason
in religious matters with assurance and free from outside direction.
But on the other hand, we have clear indications that the field
has now been opened wherein men may freely dea1 with these things
and that the obstacles to general enlightenment or the release from
self-imposed tutelage are gradually being reduced. In this respect,
this is the age of enlightenment, or the century of Frederick.
Edited
by Jennifer Brainard, c. Historywiz 2000-2003
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