Kant vs
Kant vs. schopenhauer on enligIn the age of enlightenment, new and radical expressions and ideas emerged at the forefront of philosophy. Amongst German philosophers, the question of what enlightenment truly encompassed, was a major focal point. Two specific philosophers of this age are Immanuel Kant (during) and Arthur Schopenhauer (late), both have separate views on the subject of gained wisdom and intellect, the perfectability of human nature that comes along with being enlightened. Kant feels that enlightenment is "man's emergence from his self-indurred immaturity". In other words, a detachment from any religious sect. Schopenhauer goes one step further too offer the idea that true enlightenment comes from knowledge of fate, brutality, and the sin that the human race is drown in. But in contrast, Schopenhauer feels that acceptance of these truths can still be possible under rule, and under religious guidance. It is Schopenhauer's view of enlightenment that reaches closer to the truth.
Kant was a man who was raised during the Enlightenment. In his work entitled What is Enlightenment, he preaches like a mad Atheist, accusing any follower of religious faith of bing immature and lazy."It is all too easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians." It is this immaturity and susceptibility that he seeks to pull his people from. It is easy for them to be immature, keeping a mind set of, "I need not think so long as I can pay". Pretty harsh words for his time when the threat of religious persecution was still an existent social norm. He feels man to be smarter than that. "For they would certainly learn to walk eventually after a few falls." But, man cannot do this "because he was never allowed to make the attempt."
Let man learn, Kant replies. Let him be free to speak. Let him be free to think on his own. "The public use of man's reason must always be free, and it alone can bring about enlightenment"
This is his view, his vision. "Argue as much as you like and about whatever you like, but obey." What oppression might he be referring to that man must be free from? Free from what? Free from religious misguiding. Wisdom, comes from freedom. Enlightenment comes solely from freedom of rules and the oppression that religion brings.
In this short piece, Kant finds ample room to degrade the politics of religious orderings of the time, accusing them of oppression and hypocracy. "One cannot put the next age in a position where it would be impossible for it to extend and correct it's knowledge. This would be a crime against human nature, where original destiny lies precisely in such progress." Here he refers to the guidance of the church. He feels the church allows no room for questioning and reworking of it's contexts. Kant sees this as a closed door, a road block to human evolution and education. It's human nature to question. It's in our blood to look...
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