Immanuel Kant's What Is Enlightenment?

In today’s society, free thinking seems to be a principle less and less broached upon. The average citizen does very little as far as discovery and development. Instead, we listen to others to know what to believe. Education tells us what is supposedly true and religion lets many know what to believe and how to act. Few stop to make up their mind on their own behalf. Enlightenment, which supports free thought and challenging existing systems, seems to be the opposite of what is occurring. In Immanuel Kant’s What is Enlightenment? he proposes that enlightenment is necessary to benefit humanity. Candide, by Voltaire, another proponent of enlightenment, presents a chronicle of dismaying events that occur to a man because of his lack of

While enlightenment suggests questioning traditional views of religion and science, the negative effects of being unenlightened present themselves first in Candide. When Candide asks the religious orator for some food, he is met with “you don’t deserve any...away with you, you rascal, you rouge, never come near me as long as you live” (359). He responds this harshly simply because Candide speaks without a definite religious stance. This orator is just one of many characters, such as the Grand Inquisitor, that reveal corruption in their religious positions. In an unenlightened state, this is a comment how far and how bad conditions can get when people fail to question traditional practices. Kant places “the main point of enlightenment… chiefly in matters of religion because our rulers have no interest in playing guardian with respect to the arts and sciences” (109). Kant explains that religion is one of the greatest threats to enlightenment because, unlike other fields, there is significant incentive to spread the way of a certain religion. The unchecked power of the church and of religious members is one of the results of this, as seen in Candide. Kant goes on to write that “religious incompetence is not only the most harmful but also the most degrading of all” (109). He recognizes too the downsides that result from not questioning the higher institutions

A great example of this is in Candide where Pangloss is talking to Candide. Pangloss claims that because they are finally satisfied, they are after all in the best of possible worlds, to which Candide responds “that is very well put… but we must cultivate our garden” (413). This passage represents after years of tutelage and being told what to think by Pangloss, Candide finally distancing himself from him and takes a step towards enlightenment. Candide recognizes that Pangloss may be right, but he stresses the importance of living on one 's own terms, without tutelage, which he achieves by working in the garden. These enlightenment principles are what causes him to finally start seeing consistency and satisfaction in his life. Another example of the personal benefits of enlightenment is seen from Kant’s writing. He compares humans’ limited free thinking to cattle who walk in harnesses permanently, scared if they are removed. He writes that if they were to have their harness removed “this danger is not so great, for by falling a few times they would finally learn to walk alone” (105). This quote suggests that enlightenment is ultimately a much freer and content state, but many are afraid to leave what they are used to because it means failing a few times at first. This also explains why ignorance may feel like bliss because it is the simplest state to