WhatIsEnlightenment什么是啟蒙

2024年3月25日發(作者：今年是國慶幾周年)

What Is Enlightenment? 什么是啟蒙?

What Is Enlightenment? 什么是啟蒙?

Enlightenment is man's leaving his lf-caud immaturity.

Immaturity is the incapacity to u one's intelligence without the

guidance of another.

Such immaturity is lf-caud if it is not caud by lack of

intelligence, but by lack of determination and courage to u one's

intelligence without being guided by another. Have the courage to u

your own intelligence! is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment.

Through laziness and cowardice a large part of mankind, even

after nature has freed them from alien guidance, gladly remain immature.

It is becau of laziness and cowardice that it is so easy for others to

usurp the role of guardians. It is so comfortable to be a minor! If I

have a book which provides meaning for me, a pastor who has conscience

for me, a doctor who will judge my diet for me and so on, then I do not

need to exert mylf. I do not have any need to think; if I can pay,

others will take over the tedious job for me. The guardians who have

kindly undertaken the supervision will e to it that by far the largest

part of mankind, including the entire "beautiful x," should consider

the step into maturity, not only as difficult but as very dangerous.

After having made their domestic animals dumb and having

carefully prevented the quiet creatures from daring to take any step

beyond the lead-strings to which they have fastened them, the

guardians then show them the danger which threatens them, should they

attempt to walk alone. Now this danger is not really so very great; for

they would presumably learn to walk after some stumbling. However, an

example of this kind intimidates and frightens people out of all further

attempts.

It is difficult for the isolated individual to work himlf out

of the immaturity which has become almost natural for him. He has even

become fond of it and for the time being is incapable of employing his

own intelligence, becau he has never been allowed to make the attempt.

Statues and formulas, the mechanical tools of a rviceable u, or

rather misu, of his natural faculties, are the ankle-chains of a

continuous immaturity. Whoever threw it off would make an uncertain jump

over the smallest trench becau he is not accustomed to such free

movement. Therefore there are only a few who have pursued a firm path

and have succeeded in escaping from immaturity by their own cultivation

of the mind.

But it is more nearly possible for a public to enlighten itlf:

this is even inescapable if only the public is given its freedom. For

there will always be some people who think for themlves, even among

the lf-appointed guardians of the great mass who, after having thrown

off the yoke of immaturity themlves, will spread about them the spirit

of a reasonable estimate of their own value and of the need for every

man to think

A public can only arrive at enlightenment slowly. Through

revolution, the abandonment of personal despotism may be engendered and

the end of profit-eking and domineering oppression may occur, but

never a true reform of the state of mind. Instead, new prejudices, just

like the old ones, will rve as the guiding reins of the great,

unthinking mass.

All that is required for this enlightenment is freedom; and

particularly the least harmful of that may be called freedom, namely,

the freedom for man to make public u of his reason in all matters. But

I hear people clamor on all sides: Don't argue! The officer says: Don't

argue, drill! The tax collector: Don't argue, pay! The pastor: Don't

argue, believe!... Here we have restrictions on freedom everywhere.

Which restriction is hampering enlightenment, and which does not, or

even promotes it? I answer: The public u of a man's reason must be

free at all times, and this alone can bring enlightenment

The question may now be put: Do we live at prent in an

enlightened age? The answer is: No, but in an age of enlightenment. Much

still prevents men from being placed in a position to u their own

minds curely and well in matters of religion. But we do have very

definite indications that this field of endeavor is being opened up for

men to work freely and reduce gradually the hindrances preventing a

general enlightenment and an escape from lf-caud immaturity. 中

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