Immanuel Kant called enlightenment an
Ausgang, or an exit. He felt that it was a release from
immaturity; immaturity being when one discards use of one's faculty of reason in favor of the reason of an authority, such as when one chooses to rely on a spiritual
middleman. Therefore, enlightenment is reasoning for the sake of reason.. But Kant also felt that
enlightenment will be reached when men can reason freely, but still must obey authority -- when we have the freedom to gripe about
taxes, but not the freedom to withhold payment. And so what Kant basically proposes is freedom of thought in despotic
Prussia, under the condition that the individual must act in accordance with universal reason; that is, obey the state, adapting use of one's reason to present circumstances. (This, being public freedom of reason, but private submission, is different from
freedom of conscience.)
This information was culled (and paraphrased) from
Michel Foucault's excellent essay, "
What Is Enlightenment?". As I've demonstrated, I lack the ability to adequately explain such philosophical concepts; you may want to read the essay yourself. ;-)
Kant's concept is interesting, although I certainly disagree with the requirement of obedience. Yet I wonder if merely the freedom to throw off the
conformist straitjacket is
maturity, or if the act of doing so is. Perhaps I should re-read Foucault's essay, or check out the work of
Kant. For it seems we all have the freedom to exercise reason, but relatively few choose to do so.
Or perhaps the subtle and sophisticated tools of
coercion in use in Western society deprive one of one's freedom of reason. That is, will everyone exercise their faculty of reason if
indoctrination is removed? Yet,
IIRC, Kant was no determinist, arguing that cognitive ability is too advanced to be totally shaped by
human nature, life experiences, etc. Plus, I believe he was a
Christian, and
free will is Christian doctrine. Does the abstract concept of reason
imply exercise of free will? (I never wish to stray into the
free will vs. determinism debate, but I inevitably do so. It
is perhaps the most important question facing us. A question that is, in all probability, never to be answered.)
Geez, sometimes I wish I could
articulate myself more clearly..
*my brain exploding*