The Answer to the Question “What is Enlightenment”

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed mental immaturity. This immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance.

This immaturity is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance.

Do we live in an enlightened age or an age of enlightenment? He argues that in 1784 in Prussia the society lived in an age of enlightenment, meaning they were in the process of becoming enlightened, but had not yet achieved an age of enlightenment.

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed mental immaturity. This immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance.

Enlightenment is, as Kant has written, humanity's emergence from its self-imposed mental immaturity and this immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding and judgement wisely without taking orders from others.

Dare to know! (Sapere aude.) "Have the courage to use your own understanding," is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment

« Kant’s Enlightenment and the Internet: Are We as a Nation in an Enlightened Age?Factions Today »Are we in an age of enlightenment or an enlightened age?November 19, 2009 by laurenmullins It is natural for men to progress and mature as society develops. However, sometimes there are factors, whether internal or external, that prevent society from evolving. Kant addresses this issue in his writing, An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment. According to Kant’s definition, enlightenment is “man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity” (522). Furthermore, immaturity is understood as, “the inability to use one’s understanding without guidance from another” (522). Kant goes on to qualify his argument by stating that enlightenment cannot be attained unless men are allowed “the freedom to use reason publicly in all matters” (523). In other words, for enlightenment to occur, Kant argues that people need to have the right to express their opinions and thoughts openly to the public without being punished.

On the other hand, the private use of reason often restricts enlightenment, which Kant defines as “reason that which a person may make in a civic post or office that has been entrusted to him” (523).  After defining the concept of enlightenment and its premises, Kant addresses the question: Do we live in an enlightened age or an age of enlightenment? He argues that in 1784 in Prussia the society lived in an age of enlightenment, meaning they were in the process of becoming enlightened, but had not yet achieved an age of enlightenment. Many men were still caught in that state of immaturity and therefore could not express their opinions to the public because they did not have any thoughts of their own to express. Would Kant argue that the 21st century society of the United States lived in an enlightened age? While citizens of the U.S. enjoy many rights, such as the freedom of speech, there are still factors like biased outlets of media, which hinder us from being in an enlightened age, and instead place us in an age of enlightenment.

Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified three years after Kant wrote about enlightenment, citizens are guaranteed basic freedoms, including the freedom of speech and religion. The granting of these rights to every member of society was an important advancement that allowed people to express their opinions and beliefs openly without being reprimanded, something that Kant saw as essential in order for enlightenment to take place. Therefore, in that aspect, the U.S. is more enlightened than the society in which Kant lived. Americans are not denied the right to use reason in public; they can have their own opinions and religion, regardless of the government’s principles. However, just because these freedoms exist in U.S. society today does not mean we are in an enlightened age because factors still exist that hold our citizens in a state of immaturity.

One of the major issues of 21st century American society that is hindering us from entering an enlightened age is the omnipresent and often biased media. Media outlets have such an immense impact on people’s thoughts that they cause people to stay in a state of immaturity where they cannot think for themselves. One of the most obvious examples of this situation is the broadcasts of predisposed media during presidential elections. During this time, people of the media from both sides of the political spectrum report outrageous and warped stories that affect how the citizens of the U.S. think of each candidate, and potentially how they vote. After hearing the stories of the prejudiced media it is impossible for people to have their own opinions and thoughts, therefore preventing an age of enlightenment in the U.S. Some people may argue that the media allows citizens an outlet to express their views without referring to a higher authority, therefore it allows for enlightenment. However, media is an institution in which reporters and journalists take a civic post. Therefore their sharing of information through media is actually private reason and does not promote men breaking free from their state of immaturity and achieving an age of enlightenment.

While the U.S. should be in an age of enlightenment because of our freedoms, especially those under the First Amendment, we are not yet there due to the influence of the media on our citizens. It is apparent through the biased claims of the media and the impact they have on society’s decisions and thoughts that we are unable to reach an age of enlightenment in the U.S. because some citizens are still affected by the self-imposed state of immaturity that stops them from becoming enlightened.Reference:“An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” by Immanuel Kant

http://polsci101.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/are-we-in-an-age-of-enlightenment-or-an-enlightened-age/

Mental immaturity