Was The Enlightenment Really The Age of Reason? Essay

The enlightenment was a time of high intellect and bright new ideas. It was also called the age of reason.

In order to understand what the legacy of the Enlightenment was it is important to determine what is meant my Enlightenment. The most influential and accept definition is that of Emmanuel Kant, who in his prize winning essay on “What is Enlightenment” defined it as man’s freedom from imposed rules. It is therefore no surprise that perhaps the key legacy of the Enlightenment is the beginning of basic rights of man. The social effects of the Enlightenment are the most enduring and the most significant because the changing attitudes and beliefs of the general public resulted in new political movements that have shaped modern society. The newfound rights of the people led to a demand for a more inclusive governing system that ultimately led to

The Age of Enlightenment was arguably one of the most defining eras in history regarding the transition of cultures from pre-modern traditions to current modern thought and philosophy. The Enlightenment came about through many intellectuals’ desires to separate from centuries old political and social traditions, such as absolutism and divine right. The movement advocated the use of reason rather than focusing on religion and began to break away from the bonds of religious tyranny, as well as long-standing notions of sovereignty. The Enlightenment age was the means for these intellectuals to publish their philosophies and theories, which in turn initiated revolution in political and social practices throughout Europe and consequently the entire

The age of enlightenment was an eighteenth century scientific movement (Spielvogel, 134). The Enlightenment started because intellectuals who were impressed by the ideas of the scientific revolution thought that they could use the scientific method to improve society.

In his essay Kant clearly explains the difference between and enlightened age and an age of enlightenment. In an enlightened age we would all be religious without clergymen because we would know to which things we should be obedient or disobedient. In this age there would be elimination of self-incurred immaturity. During the age of enlightenment we are making the progress towards using both kinds of reasoning. Incompetence is not using pubic and private use of reason in balance with one another. Competence is the balance of both public and private use of reason. We must know how to determine when it is right to obey and right to argue. In terms of government obedience it is often necessary, but any effort to hinder the public's free use of reason should be forbidden. In Kant's essay "What is Enlightenment?," he shows the transition for the age of enlightenment to the enlightened age. It enables the people to become more like the guardian and managers of their own freedom.

The Enlightenment was a philosophical time period that was placed in the eighteenth century. It was also known as the “Age of Reason”. Most thinkers argued that the things of nature could be understood by using human reason. This time period is when people began to question certain authorities. People began to notice that the sake of humanity could be fixed or saved by using reason to think and improve society. Although they sometimes differed in favoring inductive or deductive reasoning, Enlightenment thinkers often worked towards the same general goal which was changing society for the better by using science, logic, and education.

Reconciliation of Kant's concept of enlightenment with his concept of history requires scrutiny of Kant's definition. "Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity." In other words, the important qualifier for enlightenment is not finding the truth, but searching for it. To attain enlightenment, man must simply exercise his faculty of reason without outside guidance. Also, it is noteworthy that Kant says, "have courage to use your understanding." Once again, priority falls upon the simple use of reason—the means and not necessarily the ends. Therefore, enlightenment becomes an attainable characteristic for humanity throughout its entire history. One could not assume that Einstein was more enlightened than Newton because Einstein's theories seem closer to the truth. To the question of whether Kant's time is a time of increased enlightenment, Kant replies in the affirmative. However, there is no suggestion that the ideas

The Enlightenment Period, otherwise known as the Age of Reason was a period in time when intelligent individuals believed if given the ability to reason from God or nature, they would be able to unveil truths and find answers in any proposed question (Background Essay). The Enlightenment period started in France where thinkers from Britain, France and throughout Europe questioned the eccentric traditional authority and took in the idea that humanity could be improved through rational change. French philosopher Voltaire who appraised and promoted freedom of speech believed it would lead to a stable society and was the best weapon against bad government. A new society should prioritize the Enlightenment ideas of freedom of expression because there are different groups of people who struggle to gain full access to speak up because of reasons including poverty, racial discrimination and cultural pressure. Although a strong case could be made that freedom of economics would be better to focus on, this argument is unconvincing because the wealth would eventually be unevenly distributed, limiting freedom of the many unfortunate others with less luxury.

Within his essay Kant questions the presence of enlightenment thinking, posing the question: “’Do we live in an enlightened age?’ the answer is, ‘No.’ but we do live in an age of enlightenment” (“What is Enlightenment?”). People were encouraged to use their own sense of understanding through enlightened ways, but few of them actually followed this practice, especially monarchs. If German truly lived in an enlightened age, vast reforms and movements would have been enacted on behalf of the people, placing the subject’s betterment over that of the monarch. However, even though rulers such as Frederick II of Prussia appeared to be enacting such helpful laws, they were ultimately governing in the same way they had for ages; for the benefit of the monarchy. Enlightenment concepts were familiar throughout German speaking lands but because they were not yet fully practiced and the concepts were still unfolding it was not an enlightened

The Enlightenment era, occasionally referred to as the Age of Reason, was a union of thoughts and behavior that occurred all through the eighteenth century in Western Europe, England and American colonies. Scientific rationalism was the trademark of everything that is related to the Enlightenment era. Enlightenment thinkers alleged that the advancement of industries and science promised a new age of equality and advancement for human race. People raveled more and more goods were produced for less money. The greatest hindrance of human understanding proceeds from incompetency, dullness, and deceptions of the senses; meaning, things that appeals to the senses overshadow things which do not appeal to the senses, although they be very important.

In the piece What is Enlightenment (1784) by Immanuel Kant, he talks about his idea of what the definition of enlightenment is and explains his idea of enlightenment as being a way of people questioning everything and speaking openly about their reasoning for why they are questioning in the first place. He also talks about how one should be obedient to the thing that is being called into question if it keeps society going along. It is within his piece that he presents the motto “Argue as much as you will, and about what you will, only obey” and presents this idea of public reasoning and private reasoning from which for the rest of the piece he explains

The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, took place in Europe in the 18th century. It became a time period that consisted of new knowledge and wisdom. People began to see the world in a different way, and began to think more logically. The Enlightenment was a major turning point in Europe since it led to new scientific discoveries, a secular way of viewing religion, and a shift in the way the government ruled.

“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

In the opening sentence of Immanuel Kant’s essay, “What Is Enlightenment?” he answers the question quite succinctly. In brief, Kant believed that “enlightenment is man 's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity.” Furthermore, he added that “Immaturity is the inability to use one 's understanding without guidance from another.” I considerably agree with his definitions, yet his annotations on immaturity in relation towards religion, the government, and the way people should live their lives are a bit obscured, impulsive and quite vague. Although I believe people should think for themselves and have an open-mind, I do not agree that that makes them qualified to live their lives without rules, regulations or guidance.

However, Kant believed that if a society was given freedom, they'll slowly be able to reach enlightment. Which is where public and private use of reason come into place. Kant described