The Enlightenment by Immanuel Kant - Essay Example

The enlightenment The enlightenment What is enlightenment? by Immanuel Kant. According to Immanuel Kant, Enlightenment can be defined as the man’s emergence from the nonage he had imposed himself in. nonage, on the other hand, refers to the inability of using one’s understanding without guidance from another person. The nonage was termed to be self-imposed because its cause was not out of lack of understanding but indecision as well as lack of courage of making use of one’s mind without the guidance of another (Cohen, 2011). The enlightenment motto washaving the courage to make use of one’s own understanding. Immanuel attributed cowardice and laziness to be the reasons as to why large portion of human kind remain minors all their lives gladly. It gives some people an opportunity to set themselves guardians over others. Enlightenment requires freedom only. This is the freedom of making members of the public use of an individual’s reason in every matter. Kant argues that it is common to hear a statement “do not argue” coming from members like officers, tax collectors and pastors. This means that members of the society are limited. He claims that restrictions do not enhance enlightenment at all. Only freedom can facilitate mankind’s enlightenment. No man should, therefore, act as the guardian of others on the basis of the post or responsibility he or she could be holding in the society (Jacob, 2001). A man might postpone his enlightenment but for a limited time only. Giving up the enlightenment altogether for oneself or for one’s descendants is violating and trampling upon man’s sacred rights. Immanuel also indicates that it is bad when one debases his sovereign power in order to support spiritual disposition of few tyrants in his nation over all his subjects. He indicates that although they were living in enlightenment age they were not living an enlightened age (Cohen, 2011). He supported this by indicating that although men had the capability of using their reasoning in religious matters correctly and confidently without external influence; this had not taken place yet. However, the hindrances against enlightenment or emergence from the self-imposed nonage were diminishing gradually. This implies that in deed it was the enlightenment age. He added that a prince ought to indicate clearly that his duty is not to dictate anything about religious subjects but he should leave them completely free. According to Immanuel, enlightenment’s main point is the emergence of men from self-imposed nonage. Primarily the nonage is in religious matters since rulers are not interested in playing the guardian in their subjects, the sciences and arts. He also added that nonage in religion is the most harmful and dishonorable. According to Immanuel only, enlightened man can give people freedom to argue as much as they like and about what they like but obey (Porter, 2001). Jerusalem: or on religious power and Judaism by Moses Mendelssohn One of the most political tasks, according to Moses, was balancing religion and state, civil and ecclesiastical constitution as well as churchly and secular authority. This is because they did not but they just became burdens on social life and weighed down its foundation rather than upholding it. Men had strived in solving it and enjoyed settling it practically instead of solving it theoretically (Jacob, 2001). Some of them thought of separating these different societal men’s relations into moral entities and assign every province specific duties, rights, properties and powers. The extent of various boundaries and provinces could not, however, be fixed accurately. According to Moses, disposition has an advantage of being consistent. He terms it to have answer to every question. It also holds true for the ecclesiastical government as per Roman Catholic principles (Porter, 2001). A person who considers tranquility in life and doctrine to be felicity he will find the Roman Catholic despot the only secure place. When liberty moves something from the structure, ruins start threatening from all sides and it can ruin everything. Thomas Hobbes lived when fanaticism which combined with a sense of liberty that was disorderly. He was hence revealed as a man who had not gotten a taste of civil liberty or wished to have it destroyed rather than abused. He resorted to subtle twist so as to retain liberty of thought for himself. Locke also lived in the same period of deep confusion sought in protecting the conscience liberty. He noted that a state is a men’s society who unite in order to collectively promote temporal welfare. This implies that a state does not concern itself with people with convictions concerning their eternal felicity (Cohen, 2011). It however, tolerates everybody who conducts well as a citizen who does not interfere with fellow citizens’ temporal felicity. Such a state is not noticing religion differences for religion does not have essential influence on temporal matters. It is unadvisable to assume that all love duties for fellow man to distribution of alms as well as transform them into public institutions. Man tends to be conscious of his worth when he is performing charitable act. The state’s chief efforts are supposed to govern men via convictions and morals. Hope and fear are not truth’s criteria but knowledge, persuasion and reasoning can bring principle which when helped by example and authority pass into morals. This is where religion come to state’s aid hence the church become a civil felicity’s pillar. Church helps the state by consoling and teaching which it imparts to people through doctrines. The difference between religion and state, therefore, is states gives coerces and orders while religion persuades and teaches. Both the state and church have influence upon men’s actions. Both must hence instruct, teach, motivate and encourage (Jacob, 2001). However no form of government is advisable for the church and the arbiter of church disputes is the one God has given ability to convince others. Definition of enlightenment Enlightenment is the man’s emergence from a nonage he could have imposed himself in. Nonage, however, is the inability of using one’s understanding without guidance from another person. It is also to refer to the period when western culture and thought was under major changes in mid seventeenth century up to eighteenth century (Cohen, 2011). It was characterized by dramatic revolutions in philosophy, science, politics and society. It is believed to sweep away medieval world-view hence ushering the modern western world. The reason why this work is of the enlightenment period In deed the contents of these works indicates that they were written during the enlightenment period. Immanuel indicates very well that it was the enlightenment age. He indicated that this was because obstacles of enlightenment as well as self-imposed nonages were diminishing (Porter, 2001). This reveals that people were gaining capability of reasoning for themselves confidently and correctly without influence from outsiders although they had not exercised it effectively. Similarly, Kant’s writing is dated 1784 which is eighteenth century. It is worth noting that the enlightenment period is historically believed to take place from mid seventeenth century up to eighteenth century. Moses Mendelssohn’s writing, on the other hand, explains about state and religion. This is in terms of governance. One of the characteristics of the enlightenment period is revolutions in politics, society as well as philosophy. This writings try to explain how state and religion interrelate. Considering it was the time when politics was under significant reforms, the document’s writing reveal very well it represents that era when the society was trying to define the best way of state leadership. It was trying to differentiate the roles of state and church towards building a successful society (Jacob, 2001). The author indicates that states gives coerces and orders while religion persuades and teaches. This offers an insight of the era when the governments were developing in terms of leadership. The nature of work in terms of radicalism The work was very radical. This is because it was trying to instill change in the way life as well as the systems that were in existence. Immanuel Kant’s work indicates true radicalism when he protests on the way things used to be in the society. He was condemning people becoming other’s guardians (Porter, 2001). The other document emphasizes on the role the state should play as well as the church to ensure the society live the way it ought to. Social/political issues The work addresses various social and political issues. Immanuel’s writing addresses freedom of the members of the society. He defines enlightenment as the way of emerging from nonage, a state of failing to use an individual’s understanding. This welcomes other people to become others guardians (Cohen, 2011). He also indicates that enlightenment entails freedom. This is a social aspect on the way people should live socially. Moses’ writing, on the other hand, addresses politics whereby it tries to analyze how it influences the society as well as how it interrelates with religion. In other words how these two aspects influences the society hence politics on social aspects. Readers’ reception In deed the works had a significant influence to the society. The readers receive it as a challenge as well as a crucial learning tool. It was trying to teach them what enlightenment is and the way and what it entails to achieve it (Jacob, 2001). Kant indicated that freedom is what is required while the other writing revealed the way state and church relate. It was hence a teaching tool and a challenge to people. Its relevance today The writing is very relevant to the current world. Freedom has never become a reality to date rather slavery has been changing its nature with time in most of the societies. This implies that enlightenment is still essential to date. Similarly, the state and religion have been in constant struggle (Cohen, 2011). A clear distinction on the influence of church and state to the society, need to be established even today. This reveals that this work has significant relevance even today. References Cohen, A. (2011). Evolutionary enlightenment: A new path to spiritual awakening. New York: Select Books, Inc. Jacob, M. C. (2001). The enlightenment: A brief history with documents. Boston [u.a.: Bedford [u.a.. Porter, R. (2001). The enlightenment. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Read More