''Have courage to use your own reason''-that is th motto of Essay

''Have courage to use your own reason''-that is th motto of enlightenment. What according to Kant is the the task for mankind in - Essay Example Kant argued that enlightenment in a man pertains to a state when the latter has overcome or emerged above his immature self whereby it is claimed that beyond man’s immaturity, there exists sufficient capacity to understand in the absence of external guiding principle. In this proposition, the immaturity of an individual is considered to be imposed upon oneself and an immature person ought to be relieved of anxiety in seeking the ability to discern. On this ground, humans are summoned to initiate with a certain level of responsibility by acknowledging the significance of courage in order to be willing to acquire pertinent means to understand. Otherwise, Kant further stressed that, people who think themselves capable find it rather of an advantage to their ends to obtain guardianship for those who become weakened either by cowardice or indolence. This, if well-managed apart from any trace of corruption or bribery, can serve to put the immature ones on a learning situation where they can start to gain insights which would in turn drive them to exertion. Guardianship or assuming a role with a sense of significant accountability for a portion of incapable multitude occurs to be a serious deed of necessary guidance toward enlightenment, at least the initial step in launching a mature realization. On exercising such potentials, obstacles and frustration are inevitable but a guardian must not cease from anticipating good and poor results alike since the majority of common public who are slaves to idleness have, by frequency of being, been accustomed to remain as they are. Bringing them to the level of maturity entails breaking away from a lifelong habit, hence, enlightenment would be gradual in teaching and learning process that extends to the willful duty to look after the manner by which a thinking is reformed from inaction to the stage filled with sensibility and dynamic rationalization. Enlightenment comes with the wisdom to ascertain which set of reasons is mature enough to be helped at improving one’s well-being upon which the government can act by exposing a dumb nation to several areas of knowledge and non-academic programs that naturally foster a mentally stimulating atmosphere. Once the unknowing citizens begin to recognize both their worth and unique abilities along the way, this marks the first stage of enlightenment that, little by little, proceeds in yielding the desired maturity to deal satisfactorily with personal growth and development. Considering the basic principle behind the motto of enlightenment, in taking courage to avail of one's unique rationalization, a will to freedom breaks off the leash of underdevelopment that makes man complacent with ordinary living without seeing the essence of risks to meet ends that are far more rewarding and sensible in human existence. Where one acknowledges this step as a way to be emancipated out of the old self accompanied with foolish habits, there comes the necessary initia tive or assertion followed by a transforming act to acquire a firm stand over matters. Having courage to use one's own reason gradually progresses in abolishing slavery to the contentment of avoiding fear toward responsibility for one's unique position because then the person sees possibilities of