Immanuel Kant - What is Enlightenment?

from Sources of the Western Tradition

Instructions for the reading: While reading mark up the text to show evidence of a close read. Put a ? next to parts you have questions about, put an * next to things you think are interesting, and a ! next to things you think are important. After finishing answer the questions at the end

Enlightenment is a mans leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use ones intelligence without the help of another. Such immaturity is self-caused by a lack of determination and courage to use ones intelligence without being guided by another. Sapere Aude! {Dare to Know!} Have the courage to use your own intelligence! is therefore the motto of the enlightenment. Through laziness and cowardice a large part of mankind gladly remain immature. It is so easy for others to take the role of guardians. It is so comfortable to be a minor! If I have a book telling me what to think, a pastor telling me what to believe, a doctor telling me what to eat and so on, then I do not need to work myself. When I do not need to think; others will take the tedious job for me. These guardians, who kindly undertake our supervision, will remind us how dangerous and difficult the step towards maturity is. After having made their domestic animals dumb, these guardians then show them the danger which threatens them, should they attempt to walk alone. Now this danger is not really so very great; most likely they would learn to walk after some stumbling. However, the fear of failure intimidates and frightens people out of all further attempts. It is difficult for the individual to work himself out of the immaturity which has become almost natural for him. He has become so fond of it he is now incapable of using his own intelligence, because he has never been allowed to make the attempt. The lack of use and misuse, of his natural abilities, are the ankle-chains of a continuous immaturity. Throwing off the immaturity would be like making an uncertain jump over a trench because he is not used to such freedom. Therefore there are only a few who have succeeded in escaping from immaturity by their own cultivation of the mind.

A public is more likely to enlighten itself if allowed to do so as a whole: this is even inevitable if only the public is given its freedom. There will always be some people who think for themselves who will spread the spirit of the need for every man to think for himself A public can only arrive at enlightenment slowly. All that is required for this enlightenment is freedom, namely, the freedom for man to make public use of his reason in all matters. But I hear people clamor on all sides: Dont argue! The officer says: Dont argue, drill! The tax collector: Dont argue, pay! The pastor: Dont argue, believe! We have restrictions on freedom everywhere The public use of a mans reason must be free at all times, this alone can bring enlightenment among men by the public use of ones reason I mean the use of which a scholar makes of it before the entire reading public The question may now be put: Do we live at present in an enlightened age? The answer is: No, but in an age of enlightenment. Much still prevents men from being placed in a position to use their own minds securely and well in matters of religion. But we do have very definite indications that this field of endeavor is being opened up for men to work freely and reduce gradually the hindrances preventing a general enlightenment and an escape from self-caused immaturity. 1. What did Immanuel Kant mean by the terms enlightenment and freedom?

2. What prevented people from becoming enlightened & free?

3. What might be the political consequences of this essay?