In letting go of immaturity, the individual becomes enlightened. In the age of enlightenment that Kant mentions, men will become more mature in that they can use their intellect as a guiding force on its own without relying on others to help them think. As Kant puts it, “it is so convenient to be immature!” (Enlightenment, 54) In this world are so many options to do the work of the individual: the book will understand for him (Enlightenment, 54), so that he need not ever think for himself. In an ideal enlightened age, men could use “their own understanding confidently and well… without outside guidance” (Enlightenment, 58), thereby overthrowing self-incurred immaturity.
It is the power of the intellectual to give his voice to others in a constructive way, to address issues publicly, and to voice concerns. The difficult part for Kant is that no man can do so at all times. One can enjoy freedom of speech but only under certain circumstances; the intellectual can voice his thoughts but only at appropriate times. Kant gives the example of the clergyman (Enlightenment, 56), who must be the mouthpiece of the church at work and say only what the church wants him to teach, but outside of that he is free to voice opinions and speak freely.
It is also the power of the intellectual to “argue as much as you like and about whatever you like, but obey! (Enlightenment, 59) The ruler in an enlightened age who is enlightened himself will allow the “his subjects to make public use of their own reason” (Enlightenment, 59) because he will realize that it is for his own benefit as a ruler that he should allow his people to speak. The individual may now voice his thoughts and think freely, the greatest privilege a man can have. In the freedom of thought allowed by an enlightened ruler, the intellectual has the power to think and speak freely without self-incurred immaturity. The power of the intellectual will influence the whole people into a state of free-thinking citizens.
The intellectual enjoys “the courage to use [his] own understanding!” (Enlightenment, 54) The enlightenment of the entire public will occur when each person thinks for himself and frees himself from immaturity.
this is all great molly, the suggestion i would have is to include other aspects of Kant's philosophy, and not just aspects of "what is enlightenment".
ReplyDeletefor example the categorical imperative and the kingdom of ends reflect on the influence an individual has over society. an individual, in the kingdom of ends, has complete influence over the people, and they hold the same over him. this is because the actions of that person and the actions of everyone are linked. if the individual acts morally, then the entire society will act morally, if the citizen acts immorally, then the state will become an immoral and corrupt state.
Kant most likely knows that the kingdom of ends is an unrealistic reality but it is relevant to the question because it was his ultimate goal.