We’re living in the Age of Enlightenment, to where people are becoming less afraid to think for themselves, to form their own opinions and to use their own understanding without depending on others for their knowledge. For centuries, we have depended on guardians and the governments for guidance in our lives, never breaking out of the codependency-like immaturity, never thinking for our own selves. As Kant once said, the motto of enlightenment is to “have courage to use your own understanding!” But that being said, most of the society are living in the modern technology age, where we can use the internet to google anything we could possibly think of and instantly receive an answer rather than thoroughly researching the question and deciding for yourself. To be able to think for yourself and to use your own understanding signifies freedom or enlightenment. It's being completely aware of everything that could bind us into immaturity. In Kant’s view, “Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one’s understanding without guidance from another.” (Page 393) An enlightened person differs from an immature person simply by attaining a “state of unbothered bliss”. (Page 408) Being able to trust your intuition, your own understanding and judgement and to not depend on someone else’s intuition is enlightenment. To be immature, you look to someone else for what to do like a blind sheep in the herd that is following the shepherd.
Preview of Main Points: First, I will discuss the story of La Virgen de Guadalupe and the importance in the Mexican culture. Then, I will discuss how I identify myself with this culture and one experience in which I explain why la Virgen de Guadalupe is important to me.
Theodor Seuss Geisel is best known around the world under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss for writing phenomenal children’s books, which taught children how to read and imagine the world in a different way. Geisel wanted children to build a critical life skill by most importantly learning how to read. He is an American icon because his work represents children’s literature, cartoon surrealism, and nonsense poetry. Geisel’s personal life influenced his work by the way he was raised as a child, his education, and marriages that motivated him to become one of the most popular children’s author’s during the twentieth century.
During this year of 1794, we have come through many tribulations and have suffered to great extent for our freedom of Britain. This country has lost fathers and sons to bring us freedom and ensure our rights are kept. It brings me displeasure to write about grievances with our own government. However we must be aware of current and past issues and let it be known that this country and government will defend its people’s rights and preserve their freedom.
Caroline Chastant Sherry Sharifian GOVT. 2305 71433 18 September 2017 Civil Liberties & Civil Rights: Fundamentals for US Government Our forefathers established the United States of America as a country where democracy reigns supreme and the ideals of freedom and equality lead society. Now more than ever, the beliefs of our young country are being called into question in the midst of controversial situations and changing times. Despite the struggles of sticking to age old beliefs, civil liberties and civil rights help stabilize our government.
This was the first time in history for individuals to express the freedom of speech. Reason , during this era, was found within yourself. In the Norton Anthologies book , Volume D, it states, “Enlightenment thinkers argued, could rely on their own authority- rather than looking to priests or princess-to decide how to act well in the world” ( 93). In this quote from the book, it displays how reason was starting to evolve. People were no longer ok with being told what to do , say or think.
The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, states that all citizens have certain unalienable rights which are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Over the next 250 years, these “unalienable rights” have been deteriorating in our country and the amount of them that everyone has slowly gone away. This led to civil liberty issues arising from race, sex, and wealth classes. Civil liberties are rights that governments can’t take away from the people and everyone has. Civil liberty issues of the American past have not been resolved because the deliberate murder of people is still prominent in America, women in society are controlled by men, and the discrimination of blacks and whites continues to exist.
“The motto of the Enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own understanding.” (Kant 54). Most have no understanding that Kant says because they weren’t given the sense to use their own understanding. I feel that Kant dares us to have courage because when he discovered his own understanding he felt a sense of greatness and accomplishment. Kant gives us some encouragement to think beyond the box because he knows that if he can do great things that everyone has the potential to do great things also. “…others will soon enough take the tiresome job over me. The guardians who have kindly taken upon themselves the work of supervision will soon see to it that by far the largest part of mankind should consider the step forward to maturity not only as difficult but also as highly dangerous.” (Kant 54). Thinking controls the mass chaos that could ruin society, yet we only have a few individuals who are truly original thinkers. Others pretend to be true thinker but in true are re-readers. For those of society who are not true thinkers stepping out of immaturity is a dangerous step to themselves and the ones around them. Most aren’t prepared to step out of their comfort zone because they never were meant to or prepared. The “guardians” have double
The functionality and success of the American democracy is dictated by the fundamental rights outlined in the Constitution. These rights have been utilized by American citizens on numerous occasions throughout the centuries when advocating for these critical rights. However, questions started to arise when high school students started exercising these rights in their high schools, specifically their right to free speech and expression. The right of high school students to freedom of speech became an issue when their speech began to disrupt the school day and, as a result, teachers began to restrict it. Tinker vs. Des Moines, the landmark case advocating for students’ right to free speech, as well as Bethel vs. Fraser, the case ruling that students don’t have the same first amendment rights as adults, have been instrumental in dictating the outcome of future court cases regarding the right to freedom of speech of high school students. The exchange of information and exposure to new and different ideas is critical to students’ education and should be protected. However, if the freedom of speech infringes upon the need to maintain a safe learning environment, should it be protected? In my opinion, interpretations of Tinker have proved to be too restrictive on the First Amendment rights of students. The right to freedom of speech is a core right of the American
Enlightenment, a stage in life where one should strive for. According to the text “What is Enlightenment” written by Immanuel Kant, enlightenment is “Sapere aude!” (Kant 105), which translates to “dare to know.” One reached enlightenment once they have achieved maturity and freedom. Throughout Immanuel Kant’s work “What is Enlightenment,” (Kant 105) he suggested that mankind developed a dependency on others for answers. Immanuel Kant believed that humankind is lazy and full of cowardice. Kant believed that humans depend too much on others by basing their decisions and thoughts solely on the words of others. Due to dependency, humankind developed a habit of laziness throughout time. This habit eventually serves as the main barrier prohibiting one from being enlightened because one is too lazy to seek the truth or oneself. Kant suggested that in order to each enlightenment, one must not be afraid to take the first step and use one’s own judgment and understanding. One must separate oneself from immaturity, and to achieve that, one must have fearlessness and vigor. Kant also speaks of freedom and suggested that one should have the freedom to express their opinion and act on it, one should be able to criticize what is wrong and change it.
What is free speech? Does the term ‘free speech’ cover offensive words? Painful ones? Words that disrespect others? What about objectionable, or even wrong beliefs? When is speech illegal? What is exactly meant by free speech? According to Rampell, the term ‘free speech’ includes ‘hate speech’, and is therefore protected by the first amendment (np). This means that even messages we don’t like, agree with, feel uncomfortable about, or even are disgusted by, are legal. Unfortunately, many college students consider harmful words an assault, and some students believe that such verbal attacks can and should be met with violence (French np). Students and speakers today are discriminated against in classrooms and other scenes where free speech and debate should be especially cherished.
Freedom of speech in America is defined by the right to express any opinions without any censorship or restraint. But it isn’t just defined by the words people speak aloud. It’s the actions they take part in to support the words they express. The writing of books and essays, creating artwork, giving speeches to grand crowds, voting, protesting. But do all people have the right to speak their mind? Should people be able to speak freely, to express opinions and thoughts, as promised in the United States constitution? A controversial topic, with many different opinions weighing in from around the world.
“Liberty may be endangered by abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power”-James Madison
of us fail to cherish and value our granted freedom. Many of us do not
Kant explains that, "enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred immaturity". Immaturity is man's incompetence to have direction for oneself. In other words, enlightenment is the progress of a society through the free activity of rational thought and scholarly critique. Kant feels that if we are going to liberate ourselves from immaturity then we must be able to use our
Most persons, when reviewing their actions, would unthinkingly say that they chose to act the way they did. The freedom to choose one’s behavior is a common belief in society, but this belief must be questioned. A young woman’s educational path will be the example, and we will call her Jane. When Jane enrolls in Cornell College, this hopeful high school senior enrolls on “College Decision Day” and she posts excitedly on social media that she decided her first step into the adult world. But when considering the circumstances leading up to her attending an institution of higher education, the circumstances seem to affect greatly her search process. In the fall of her senior year Jane submits applications to many colleges, and Jane, being of an eager personality, applies to ten colleges, and Jane believes she decided to apply to that number of schools to have the best variety of choices. But did Jane only perform the act of submitting ten college applications on the basis of her will? The teachers and career advisors at her affluent high school consistently encouraged Jane to apply to as many schools as the FAFSA form would allow. Additionally, both of her parents have master’s degrees, and it was always expected for Jane to attend college. Jane’s parents were involved and supportive of her early education, and so Jane performed well in school, well enough that acceptance into a four year college was not seen as difficulty. Was Jane’s will truly the determinate for her