Personally, I believe that Immanuel Kant had the greatest impact on the enlightenment. His writings opened the minds of individuals allowing them to realize that they can think for themselves. Kant writes about something he calls the “guardians”and self-incurred tutelage, Private and public use of reason, and civil freedom.
In Immanuel Kant’s essay “What is Enlightenment” he writes about “self-incurred tutelage”. Self-incurred tutelage is essentially the inability to make decisions for one’s self. He goes on to say “Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage.” (Kant 1784, Modern History Sourcebook) what this means is that enlightenment allows people to think for themselves, and not let other people make decisions for them. Kant believed that the main reason man relied on others to make decisions for them was due to the fact that man is lazy and cowardly. With man at this disadvantage, it allows others to “step in” and take charge and spew lies for their own gain. Kant writes “It is so easy not to be of age. If I have a book which understands for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a physician who decides my diet, and so forth, I need not trouble myself.
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The point that he’s trying to make is that everyone should have the right to think for themselves and have their intellect grow, without being confined. In time the people will be able to confidently think for themselves, manage their freedom, and manage the aspects of the government. Kant writes “A greater degree of civil freedom appears advantageous to the freedom of mind of the people, and yet it places inescapable limitations upon it. A lower degree of civil freedom, on the contrary, provides the mind with room for each man to extend himself to his full capacity.” (Kant 1784, Modern History Sourcebook) He talks about how bountiful it is to allow the mind to grow, allowing one’s self to think