An Answer to the Question: "What is Enlightenment?"IMMANUEL KANT
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http://www.blackmask.comKonigsberg in Prussia, 30th September, 1784.
Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self−incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's
own understanding without the guidance of another. This immaturity is self−incurred if its cause is not lack
of understanding, but lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another. The motto of
enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own understanding!
Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why such a large proportion of men, even when nature has long
emancipated them from alien guidance (naturaliter maiorennes), nevertheless gladly remain immature for life.
For the same reasons, it is all too easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so convenient to
be immature! If I have a book to have understanding in place of me, a spiritual adviser to have a conscience
for me, a doctor to judge my diet for me, and so on, I need not make any efforts at all. I need not think, so
long as I can pay; others will soon enough take the tiresome job over for me. The guardians who have kindly
taken upon themselves the work of supervision will soon see to it that by far the largest part of mankind
(including the entire fair sex) should consider the step forward to maturity not only as difficult but also as
highly dangerous.
Having first infatuated their domesticated animals, and carefully prevented the docile
creatures from daring to take a single step without the leading−strings to which they are tied, they next show
them the danger which threatens them if they try to walk unaided. Now this danger is not in fact so very
great, for they would certainly learn to walk eventually after a few falls. But an example of this kind is
intimidating, and usually frightens them off from further attempts.
Thus it is difficult for each separate individual to work his way out of the immaturity which has become
almost second nature to him. He has even grown fond of it and is really incapable for the time being of using
his own understanding, because he was never allowed to make the attempt. Dogmas and formulas, those
mechanical instruments for rational use (or rather misuse) of his natural endowments, are the ball and chain
of his permanent immaturity. And if anyone did throw them off, he would still be uncertain about jumping
over even the narrowest of trenches, for he would be unaccustomed to free movement of this kind. Thus only
a few, by cultivating the;r own minds, have succeeded in freeing themselves from immaturity and in
continuing boldly on their way.
There is more chance of an entire public enlightening itself. This is indeed almost inevitable, if only the
public concerned is left in freedom. For there will always be a few who think for themselves, even among
those appointed as guardians of the common mass. Such guardians, once they have themselves thrown off the
yoke of immaturity, will disseminate the spirit of rational respect for personal value and for the duty of all
men to think for themselves. The remarkable thing about this is that if the public, which was previously put
under this yoke by the guardians, is suitably stirred up by some of the latter who are incapable of
enlightenment, it may subsequently compel the guardians themselves to remain under the yoke. For it is very
harmful to propagate prejudices, because they finally avenge themselves on the very people who first