Kant Minority Analysis

Much has changed ever since Kant’s views during the eighteenth century. According to Kant, “Enlightenment is the human being’s emergence from his self-incurred minority” (17). Minority is the inability of individuals to use reason independently of others. The concept of minority is an important part of Kant’s argument on what prevents society from achieving enlightenment. As the foundations of enlightenment were developing, society was slowly becoming aware of this once perceived radical idea.

Society considered the idea of enlightenment a threat prior to its beginnings. The majority of people in society were accustomed to adhering to established ideas. Kant describes this phenomenon as following “formulas” (17). Formulas are the central principles

This process may be slow, depending on whether the ones in power of society allow the spread of ideas. For example, a totalitarian dictatorship will most likely censor free speech and maintain control without the threat of revolt. Individuals raised in this type of environment accept their situation. It is ingrained in their heads since birth, so they don’t recognize their plight due to lack of knowledge. Even those who harbor resentment toward the rules of society avoid speaking out for fear of being caught and punished. This brings us to the “private use” and “public use” (Kant 18, 19) of reason. The private use of reason requires individuals to obey the rules set forth by society while in a “civil post or office” (Kant 18). They are restricted from exercising their own freedom of beliefs. When they leave the offices, the circumstances are different. Individuals now have unrestricted freedom to make use of their own reason. Only when the public use of reason is allowed will the ideology of enlightenment come to fruition.

The final phase is the enlightened age. The enlightened age is the state of society where the resources needed to achieve enlightenment are available for everyone to claim freely. These resources usually come in the form of books, public institutions, and the press. But, in order to reach enlightenment, society must take the time to assimilate gradually into the newfound ideas. In addition, the masses should form a basis for their own opinions rather than following blindly to particular beliefs. An enlightened age does not necessarily require all individuals in society to become