Immanuel Kant was an 18th century German philosopher widely regarded as the central figure of modern philosophy. He was born in 1724 in Konigsberg, Prussia to his mother, Anna from Nuremberg and father, Johann a German harness-maker from Memel.
Kant believes that true religion is morality and what we know as religion is actually ecclesiological faiths. Religion is really used to help live a moral life. True religion is living a fully rational life, where the most moral thing to do is the most rational. This does not mean however, deferring to a God for all choices made in life. People are now encouraged to do the right thing because it’s the right thing, not because a religion or God tells them to, or because there are consequences if they don’t do something. People should want to help each other, because it is a morally just and rational decision. People should legislate themselves and their actions based on their morals, which they know are correct because it is rational.
On Enlightenment: Enlightenment is the human beings emergence from his self incurred morality; meaning emergence from institutionalization by the government. People are expected to think a certain way and feel a certain way and act a certain way based on the expectations from the government and the social norm, therefore acting as slaves.
Kant believes that humans enslave themselves due to their laziness and cowardice. Kant says, “Sapere aude! ‘Have courage to use your own reason!’” to express his idea of enlightenment. People allow others to teach them and in turn, defer to these definitions of life without using their own regard or ideas to express themselves. In a way, humans are becoming institutionalized; regulated and scrutinized by those in positions of authority. Kant believes that if people let others decide for them the correct way to live all the time, (pastors preaching religion, doctors suggesting diet and judiciaries enforcing just law) a person will never have to think for themselves because others will do it for them.
To successfully detach oneself from the tutelage he imposes, freedom must be practiced. Public freedom of reason is what will spark enlightenment over a group of people. The private freedom will not help in the greater quest of enlightenment. With public freedom, people are encouraged to follow the law accordingly, but to question their rights and justices respectively. Without following law, enlightenment cannot be achieved. Kant gives the example saying, “’ Argue as much as you will, and about what you will, but obey!’” which means follow the laws and obey when called upon but ask questions and challenge what you are being asked to do publicly to express thoughts on injustices and inappropriateness. Blindly following the direction of higher power is what keeps man enslaved. Kant does however, object to the idea of revolution. He understood that revolutions would only lead to “old prejudices” replacing “new prejudices”.
Freedom of thought and reason are the basis for the enlightenment of the public. People should not defer to a certain religion of belief; true religion is having good morals, which are deemed just because they are reasoned. Kant stresses the importance of thinking and acting upon those thoughts, but acting in a way so as to not cause mutiny. He expresses the need to obey the law, but publicly questioning the legitimacy of the law being followed.
Author: Julia Michaels
What is Philosophy? 