Kant - Enlightenment

1, Immanuel Kant: German (lives in Prussia)

2, 18th century
3, Similar with Aristotle regarding the use of reason or rationality
4, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Aesthetics, Political Philosophy
5, Cosmopolitanism
6, For Aristotle: all about virtues, living happily and human flourishing
7, For Kant and Mill: good conducts, doing the right things
8, Kant follows a routine everyday at the same time. He never leaves
his city/ hometown (a diverse port city). He prefers contemplation, sits
alone to come to understanding through reason.
9, The Enlightenment: After Age of Exploration (the Western world
discovers other places) and the Renaissance (Development of Arts).
10, Enlightenment is the "illumination of our understanding using
reason".
11, "What is enlightenment" is written in 1784.
12, Kant abandons the traditional way of thinking, culture, and custom
-> changes to reason. Reason can show us the path, and we don't
need guidance from rulers or culture.
13, Encyclopedia: Facts, organized information, NOT myths.
14, Orthodoxy
15, Kant is very ordered.
16, Enlightenment is mans emergence from his self-imposed
immaturity.
17, Immaturity is the inability to use ones understanding without
guidance from another OR a lack of courage to think for oneself.
18, Immaturity is readily following the blueprint or formula without
thinking/ reflecting on the process.

19, Autonomy: Independence/ Personal Freedom rather than Relying on

others for guidance.
20, Public Use of Reason: when participating in public discourse, you
should be able to reason regardless of your functions. You can give
opinions to the public at large. You should think for yourself, don't need
to be obedient.
21, Private Use of Reason: takes place with the Function/ Role/ Job you
have in society. Obeying the rules prevent you from disturbing the civil
functions of society. You should not reason your own way, but obey.
Private Use should be limited.
22, For example: If you are a priest, privately you should follow the
doctrines provided by the church. Publicly, you could argue and
provide opinions to form or change the doctrines.