Essay On Enlightenment

“If it is now asked whether we at present live in an enlightened age, the answer is: No, but we do live in a age of enlightenment,” (Kant). Enlightenment is a concept often discussed in the study of modernity because it challenges society to accept criticism for the sake of social justice. However, there exists tensions between enlightenment goals and the actual process of implementing enlightenment due to restrictions placed by the people in power. These tensions are evident in the Declaration of Independence and in a speech by Frederick Douglass titled “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Is enlightenment a goal that humanity should strive for, or has it become insufficient for human freedoms? The first step is to define enlightenment
To create an environment in which the process of enlightenment may occur, the members of a society must respect and follow the current policies and norms; however, the ruler must grant these individuals the freedom to express their opinions about apparent injustices and “make public use of [their] reason in all matters” (Kant). Free thought does not pose a threat to a leader’s control, but rather enhances the good qualities or their society and improves evident injustices. Valid critical opinions must include a solution or arrangement for the betterment of society and must be discussed and generally agreed upon by members of the public to promote the appropriate social change. According to Kant, the key to success of enlightenment is to “argue as much as you like and about whatever you like, but obey!” (Kant). By giving individuals a say in the organization and implementation of laws, the people are more likely to be satisfied with their leader. Enlightenment is not immediate; it is a slow process which requires the maturity of mankind. Any attempt to speed up the process through revolution will simply replace the old oppressive policies with new, equally unjust thinking patterns. The evolution away from barbarism and toward maturity is a natural course of development, but it can only occur through the allowance of intellectual freedom and
There are structural tensions between the documents based on Kant’s definitions of public and private spheres. The private sphere includes civil duties, i.e. the workplace, church, etc. The public sphere is where it is acceptable to share the conclusions of one’s own reasoning to the reading public. Kant emphasizes writing and publishing as the most effective and acceptable means to criticize one’s own society. The Declaration of Independence states that the colonies will “solemnly publish and declare” their independence. This clear distinction is due to the cosmopolitan trend towards publishing due to the printing press making is easier and faster to distribute written thought. In contrast, the emphasis in America leaned toward speeches as the primary method of sharing ideas with large groups of people, in fact, the Declaration of Independence was read in towns across the colonies to maintain public awareness. Similarly, Frederick Douglass presented his criticism of the Fourth of July as a speech addressed to “Mr. President, Friends and Fellow Citizens” (Douglass). Douglass’s speech reached a far wider audience (regardless of literacy) than if he had published it as a document, because, as a black man, he was not taken seriously as a writer until close to his