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The Importance Of Inlightenment, By Immanuel Kant

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Name- ID No.- Immanuel Kant : An answer to the question: What is Enlightenment An answer to the question: What is Enlightenment is an essay which was written by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) in the year of 1784, the greatest modern philosopher of all times is deeply inspired by Rousseau from where he adopts the novelties of freedom as autonomy or itself legislation. The essay addresses the causes of lack of enlightenment and the preconditions which are necessary to make it possible to enlighten the people. Kant thinks that the people should be given freedom to use their own intellect and he abolished all church and state paternalism. He mainly focused on religious issues, saying that ‘our rulers’ had less interest in telling the citizens, what to think with respect to scientific and artistic issues. In the first sentence of essay, Kant answers the question: “Enlightenment is the man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity.” He says that immaturity is from the lack of courage to use one’s intellect, reason & wisdom without the guidance of another. The motto of the enlightenment is “Sapere aude” (Dare to know!), which means, “Have the courage to use your own thoughts and understanding”. In the essay, he emphasizes on the need for people to use their own powers of understanding and reasoning instead of depending on others or on an external system to provide it to them. This essay is essentially a plea for the vital importance of freedom of speech, thought, and debate. When

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