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What Is Enlightenment
Enlightenment is man's leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is
the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another.
Such immaturity is self-caused if it is not caused by lack of intelligence,
but by lack of determination and courage to use one's intelligence without being
guided by another. Have the courage to use your own intelligence! is therefore
the motto of the Enlightenment.
Through laziness and cowardice a large part of mankind, even after nature
has freed them from alien guidance, gladly remain immature. It is because of
laziness and cowardice that it is so easy for others to usurp the role of
guardians. It is so comfortable to be a minor! If I have a book which provides
meaning for me, a pastor who has conscience for me, a doctor who will judge my
diet for me and so on, then I do not need to exert myself. I do not have any
need to think; if I can pay, others will take over the tedious job for me. The
guardians who have kindly undertaken the supervision will see to it that by far
the largest part of mankind, including the entire "beautiful sex," should
consider the step into maturity, not only as difficult but as very
dangerous.
After having made their domestic animals dumb and having carefully
prevented these quiet creatures from daring to take any step beyond the
lead-strings to which they have fastened them, these guardians then show them
the danger which threatens them, should they attempt to walk alone. Now this
danger is not really so very great; for they would presumably learn to walk
after some stumbling. However, an example of this kind intimidates and frightens
people out of all further attempts.
It is difficult for the isolated individual to work himself out of the
immaturity which has become almost natural for him. He has even become fond of
it and for the time being is incapable of employing his own intelligence,
because he has never been allowed to make the attempt. Statues and formulas,
these mechanical tools of a serviceable use, or rather misuse, of his natural
faculties, are the ankle-chains of a continuous immaturity. Whoever threw it off
would make an uncertain jump over the smallest trench because he is not
accustomed to such free movement. Therefore there are only a few who have
pursued a firm path and have succeeded in escaping from immaturity by their own
cultivation of the mind.
But it is more nearly possible for a public to enlighten itself: this is
even inescapable if only the public is given its freedom. For there will always
be some people who think for themselves, even among the self-appointed guardians
of the great mass who, after having thrown off the yoke of immaturity
themselves, will spread about them the spirit of a reasonable estimate of their
own value and of the need for every man to think for himself
A public can only arrive at enlightenment slowly. Through revolution, the
abandonment of personal despotism may be engendered and the end of
profit-seeking and domineering oppression may occur, but never a true reform of
the state of mind. Instead, new prejudices, just like the old ones, will serve
as the guiding reins of the great, unthinking mass.
All that is required for this enlightenment is freedom; and particularly
the least harmful of that may be called freedom, namely, the freedom for man to
make public use of his reason in all matters. But I hear people clamor on all
sides: Don't argue! The officer says: Don't argue, drill! The tax collector:
Don't argue, pay! The pastor: Don't argue, believe! Here we have restrictions on
freedom everywhere. Which restriction is hampering enlightenment, and which does
not, or even promotes it? I answer: The public use of a man's reason must be
free at all times, and this alone can bring enlightenment among men.
The question may now be put: Do we live at present in an enlightened age?
The answer is: No, but in an age of enlightenment. Much still prevents men from
being placed in a position to use their own minds securely and well in matters
of religion. But we do have very definite indications that this field of
endeavor is being opened up for men to work freely and reduce gradually the
hindrances preventing a general enlightenment and an escape from self-caused
immaturity. |
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发表于 2016-7-10 11:30:07