Understanding the Enlightenment: Key Concepts and Ideas

Answer to the Question: What is the Illustration? (1784) The Illustration is ... explains the meaning of what will be discussed in this work, summarized as what is the I and its target, in the expression slogan "Dare to know." The output is that man has a disability. We declare that this inability is because man’s self-blame has chosen to star in their views of others, such as laziness, poor decision-making, cowardice, or lack of valor. The aim is to exceed the minority of intellectual maturity and learn to think for oneself, i.e., the development of autonomous reasoning. This concept is very Kantian in terms of autonomy and understanding its fundamental edge. It has been seen in their ethics. It signifies a critical exercise of reason without being subjected to any other higher authority, such as faith or other authorities. This theme unites freedom and rationality. Man must exercise their freedom critically and daringly against any dogmatic imposition. Idleness and cowardice explain the causes of laziness and cowardice. The Latin phrase means that man is physically capable but remains intellectually lesser. Man is capable of being free but is more comfortable in a state of ignorance. Kant highlights the ironic effects of the minority of age. This comfort has been the tutors to maintain men in that state. In this paragraph, there is a difference between humanity and the enlightened. However, it is possible ... It is easy (anthropological optimism) but inevitable if freedom exists, so this is the prerequisite of illustration. The enlightened can and should disseminate the exercise of autonomous reason. This exercise relates to enlightened despotism (exercised by a minority government with the most enlightened and literate in order to extend culture with museums, academies, and schools). He states that the Enlightenment is slow, and economic or political revolution is not effective, but it changes the way of thinking.

But ... what constraints prevent ...? The Enlightenment states that society emphasizes its time: authoritarianism and limitation of freedom. "Just a man" refers to the king Frederick II the Great, the "philosopher king" who was an enlightened despot, a supporter of religious freedom, and ruled Prussia between 1740 and 1786. He presents a distinction between public and private use of reason. He argues this by using concepts such as the mechanism with respect to the effective functioning of state machinery. He also speaks unanimously about the artificial nature of citizens who should be subjected to this operation without criticism. One can criticize with the aim of improving the system while always obeying. The harmony of the state prevails over the individual. If we wonder ... it refers to the distinction of illustration and the illustrated as it is not yet complete, but we still lack much in disposition and movement in the process of Enlightenment. There are two broad lines of illustration: anthropological optimism and a fondness for playing the story in progress as a key to positive development. However, illustrated by no one who fears ... Here Kant referred to the government of Frederick II. We can know what Kant's ideal of government was: a strong government that allows ideological freedom of expression (public use) to its subjects. We must encourage freedom of thought and not act, as the people have long been in a state of wardship and are left with little. The true revolution is slow and occurs in thinking; there is more to act. Finally, we must keep in mind anthropological optimism. The development in the village thinks that freedom will ultimately bequeath to the government, which is the progress of humanity towards its goals.