What Is Enlightenment? Essay Questions

What kind of freedom does Kant think enlightenment requires?

Kant believes that enlightenment asks for nothing besides freedom. He refines this point by arguing that freedom of the public use of reason—that is, freedom to engage in public discourse—must be absolute. At the same time, he emphasizes that freedom of the private use of reason—freedom in civic matters—must be restricted. For enlightenment to occur, then, one must have
unlimited freedom to express oneself and advance criticisms publicly, even as one is not absolutely free in matters related to occupational duties.

What’s the relationship between guardians and enlightenment?

Guardians are figures of authority who keep people in a state of immaturity, preventing them from using their own understanding. Kant deploys the allegory of domestic livestock to show how guardians keep people confined within a comfortable state of ignorance, and suggests that people can break free from such control. While guardians present barriers to enlightenment, Kant warns against revolutionary upheaval, preferring a gradual movement toward enlightenment. Kant also mentions the possibility of an enlightened guardian, suggesting that guardians may have a positive role to play in the process of enlightenment.

What kind of governmental system does Kant think can advance enlightenment?

Kant supports “enlightened absolutism,” whereby the monarch allows religious freedom and freedom of speech, while maintaining absolute power over his subjects. This philosophy is exemplified by the monarch Fredrick the Great, who grants his citizens these freedoms while nonetheless maintaining order and unity. The spirit of enlightened absolutism is expressed through the formula, “Argue as much as you want, but obey!”