The world is a constant evolving organism, changing often like the people and plants that inhabit it. The world has changed drastically since the eighteenth century when Immanuel Kant wrote his essay on “An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” in 1784. In his essay, Kant introduces the idea of guardians, people or things that influence you to think or act in certain ways. There is a laundry list of different forms of guardians such as; media, politicians, military parents, pastors, teachers and the list can go on. The guardians with personal relationships have more influence on an individual’s way of thinking. In Kant’s essay “An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” Kant argues that personal guardians, such as parents and teachers, contradict themselves when they tell individuals to obey while encouraging them to reason and question authority.
In many cases, parents raise their children to grow up and speak their mind; however, the kids must follow the rules parents set out for them. In a household, there is usually a ground set of rules that the children must obey. For example, in my house my brother and I were not allowed to go to a rated R movie until we were 16. However, when Fahrenheit 9/11 came out, I used my reasoning to convince my parents that if I was able to see the movie I would learn more about what happened that fateful day. Kant uses a similar argument when discussing freedom. Kant argues that if people are “allowed freedom, enlightenment is almost inevitable” (1). Once children grow up the parents need to let them go and be free to think for themselves because it “has all but become his nature” (1) to be immature. The man is immature because his guardians, in this case his parents, have reasoned everything out for him. There is a fine line between when parents need to stop reasoning for their children and the line is different for everyone. But once children are allowed the freedom to think and reason for himself or herself “enlightenment is almost inevitable” (1) and this can allow for children to be enlightened in the classroom as well.
Teachers are a prime example of how they encourage their students to think outside the box but when they venture too far they are penalized because they didn’t follow the rules. In this case, the student can “argue as much as [he or she] want[s] and about what [he or she] want[s] but, obey!” (4). Kant talks about how when “things are considered in broad perspective, a strange, unexpected pattern in human affairs reveals itself, one in which everything is paradoxical” (4). Kant is saying that because a person argues, it doesn’t mean that the authority will argue back or even listen to that person. Teachers set out rules in the first few classes, and then expect the students to follow the guidelines. Oftentimes students “certainly must not argue, instead [they] must obey” (2). If students decide to argue, they often get in some sort of trouble, whether that is a deduction of a grade, or sent to the president, that is up to the person with the most power, the teacher. However, Kant is telling people to stand up and use your reasoning to challenge authority.
As the world develops and new types of guardians emerge, it is necessary to find your own voice and reason. You can’t rely on guardians such as your parents or teachers to free you from immaturity. It is vital to understand what you, as an individual, think is important and what values you want to uphold. Kant tells people to follow the motto of enlightenment “have courage to use your own understanding!’ (1). I agree and encourage all of you to reason and find yourself. Maybe then, we can all become enlightened.
Works Cited
Kant, Immanuel. “An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” (1784): 1-4
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