The Essence of Enlightenment According to Kant

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Table of Contents

Introduction: The Essence of Enlightenment
The Difference Between the Enlightened and the Immature Man
Obstacles to Consciousness and its Relevance
Desire for Immaturity as an Unwillingness for Self-Reliance
The Modern Enlightenment Era
Freedom of Thoughts and Speech
Conclusion
References

Introduction: The Essence of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment is the stage of history marked by a fundamental transformation in humanity’s relationship to its inherent faculty of reason called judgment. Before the Enlightenment, society had not sufficiently comprehended and utilized its innate reasoning capacity; it had not operated this ability independently. Humans were incapable of using their reasoning without guidance from someone else, and this condition is considered immature. The Age of Enlightenment requires self-awareness and critical thinking; therefore, the transition to it is a challenging stage in humanity’s life journey.

The Difference Between the Enlightened and the Immature Man

The Age of Enlightenment marked the metamorphosis from immaturity to maturity, which was accomplished because it formed a new culture based on reasoned judgment. Unlike an immature one, an enlightened person can use intellect without outside guidance, which is their primary difference. The capacity for review is necessary for the new man, the enlightened individual, guided by the call “Sapere Aude” (Hesse, 2018). It is significant to note that the transition process is not within everyone’s control. Comprehending the reasons for these complexities is essential to a holistic understanding of Kant’s philosophical ideas and their application.

Obstacles to Consciousness and its Relevance

Laziness and timidity are the leading reasons for individuals to remain immature in life. Any process requires diligent work, and not every individual is willing for such a transformation. This issue is highly relevant today, especially considering that democracy is based on the cultivation of each person of the will and ability to think independently. Driving someone out of familiar structures into something new and unknown requires courage and effort.

It should be noted that Kant presents such an exit in a relatively ambiguous way. He defines it as an unfolding movement but also offers it as both a task and a duty (Kant, 1991). From the first paragraph, he clarifies that man himself is responsible for the state of his imperfection. In this case, it must be comprehended that the man can only emerge from it through the change he will make of himself. The transition process is complex, and not all individuals are prepared for the hardships encountered on their way to perfection.

Kant’s Enlightenment appears as an unfinished and fundamentally incomplete pedagogical project aimed at each new generation. His catchphrase “Sapere Aude” is addressed primarily to contemporaries and represents an implicit demand for support for the program of Enlightenment. It is based on pluralism of opinion with a unity of political will. Enlightenment as a political project is possible gratitude to citizens capable of independent critical analysis of social facts. However, Kant’s article is not about people who lack reason and, therefore need not be taught to think independently, it is not about pedagogy.

He concentrates on a lack of determination and courage to use it without guidance from someone else, on laziness and cowardice to apply one’s reason independently. The chief idea of the philosopher is concentrated around a question of political determination and sense, in which Kant sees the potential for the development of society. At first glance, this point of view seems to be entirely consistent with the position of the traditional class with its demand for unrestricted freedom of speech and conscience. However, for Kant, “public use of reason” has an entirely different meaning.

Desire for Immaturity as an Unwillingness for Self-Reliance

Every man has the desire to be immature, as if one has someone to think for him, one can live in peace. That is why most people find the transition to adulthood tricky and hazardous. It is difficult for each individual to get out of the state of adolescence that has become almost natural to them. This state is pleasing, and such an individual cannot use his mind since he has never been allowed to make such an attempt. For example, when parents are constantly doing everything instead of the child, not every youngster will be ready to take responsibility and start thinking consciously. A similar concern is among adults; if one can use someone else’s services, not every adult will desire to make any efforts.

Nevertheless, Kant’s irreplaceable opponent Johann Georg Hamann, criticizing Kant’s deception of life, considered that the question is not only about laziness and cowardice. If a person does not think independently, it demands a refusal of guardianship of people over people. Relinquishing or reducing custody requires courage because this task is accompanied by a loss of control on the part of the person who is the guardian (Hesse, 2018). The enlightened person faces hardships because he is aware of the world and can analyze it. Therefore, life is more complex and requires active efforts to improve, whereas the unenlightened person is unwilling to take responsibility for actions.

The Modern Enlightenment Era

There has been a severe shift in the public mind in the modern era. In the private use of reason, one rather expresses one’s personal opinion according to position and subordination, while in society, one represents the generally accepted public one. It guarantees the convenience of living, for nothing but words are required to create the illusion of one’s view. Moreover, there are numerous news feeds on gadget screens to form an opinion on the existence of the state and actual hardships. Kant indicated theoretical, instrumental reason as its place in the periphery of the world universe.

The theoretical basis must henceforth remain within the bounds of experience alone. However, the current age works the other way around nowadays. The media are not tutoring minors or encouraging citizens to develop and grow as they fill the free airwaves with information garbage. It has the characteristic feature of being immune to criticism. It does not essentially contain an idea but only has a form that can cause an emotional dependence in the mind of a citizen and the ability to become an identified individual in society (Hesse, 2018). Therefore, it is challenging to call the modern era Enlightenment in the sense of Kant and his philosophy. Current public opinion is formed unnaturally and is not always based on the efforts and awareness of people.

Nearly two and a half centuries have passed, and as a result, one can note how far people have drifted away from the common ideal, the desire for a way out of the state of imperfection. People have set a mechanism to create obstacles to Enlightenment, and conditions diligently reinforce this. For example, individuals try to make Wikipedia payable, eliminate free higher education, and reduce the number of places for those who want to study at institutes of higher learning and now schools. These factors hinder the age of Enlightenment and the development of an intelligent society. For society to move into the type of world that Kant imagines, it is necessary to start with oneself and not be confined to one’s mind and the limits of its cognition.

Freedom of Thoughts and Speech

Freedom of thought and speech is a fundamental human liberty that implies the right to form, hold or alter opinions and beliefs without interference. It ensures the free flow of ideas and enables control of the authorities and their ability to be accountable for their actions. Humanity’s fundamental and ultimate goal in guaranteeing rights is to secure the stability and sustainability of development. World experience reveals that Sapre Aude can be achieved through the improvement of man himself through the methods of education, training, and the formation of the spirit of a civilized person (Hesse, 2018). Unfortunately, society has not yet reached the stage where it makes its history consciously, but it would be a desirable future.

Man and culture do not yet control the evolution of society and the social form of matter movement. Meanwhile, the community can reach that stage as it has an idea of what a mature person and organization should be. Consequently, it can turn the natural-historical process from spontaneous to controlled and consciously directed. If people make an effort, the social form of matter will move from local and finite to fully mature, with an eternal and infinite existence in space and time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is vital to state that Kant set the bar high for humanity, the task of living in reliance on the findings and ways of one’s reason. Centuries later, one can see that progress has inevitably followed the path of the Kantian demand. Still, in addition to those historical forces that carry man along even against his will, Kant spoke of the principle of personal accountability. Every time one follows the Enlightenment, he takes responsibility for the actions caused by his reason. An analysis of the contemporary state of knowledge shows that man today entrusts his existence to a technical civilization, assuming that technology will allow avoiding commitment. Nevertheless, one needs to be conscious and understand that only a mature person is capable of improving life.

References

Hesse, C. (2018). In the other Enlightenment. Princeton University Press.

Kant, I. (1991). What is Enlightenment? (H. B. Nisber & H. Reis.). Cambridge University Press.

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