Sapere aude!

What is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is the egress of man out of his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is the inability to make use of one’s reason without the guidance of others. This tutelage is self-incurred when it is not caused by lack of intellect, but by a lack of resolution and of courage, to make use of one’s reason without guidance by others. Sapere aude! Have the courage to use your reason – this is the motto of the Enlightenment. Laziness and cowardice are the causes why such a large number of people, after nature has long since absolved them from foreign guidance (naturaliter maiorennes – those who come of age by virtue of nature), nevertheless throughout life like to remain under tutelage; and why others find it so easy to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so comforting to be under tutelage. When I have a book that reasons for me, a pastor who has conscience for me, a doctor who judges my diet for me, etc., then I need not bother myself. As long as I can pay, I need not think; others will surely take up the irksome task for me. That the large majority of people (among them the entire fair sex) consider the step towards empowerment to be very dangerous – besides that it is burdensome -, that is what these guardians, who have most benignly taken up supervision, make sure of. After having rendered their domestic cattle dumb, and having made sure they do not dare to take a step without the tether of the harness, the guardians then point out the hazard that threatens them should they try to walk unguided. The danger, however, is not all that great, since after a number of falls they will surely learn to walk; only an example of this failure generally intimidates and unnerves all further attempts. Thus it is difficult for every man to break out of this tutelage which has almost become second nature. This tutelage is hard-earned, and for the time he is being truly unable to make use of his own reason, because he was never allowed to try. Rules and formulas, these mechanical tools for a reasonable use, or much rather misuse of his natural gifts, are the leg-irons of a perennial tutelage. Whoever sheds those, will merely leap hesitantly, even over the narrowest gap, since he is not familiar with such a free motion.

Immanuel Kant: 1724 - 1804, philosopher in Königsberg. The text first appeared under the title: »Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung?« in: »Berlinische Monatsschrift«, DezemberHeft 1784, S. 481-494.

(my translation)