Comparing Enlightenment And Kant's Idea Of Freedom In Literature

In laymen’s terms, enlightenment could be defined as the freedom to use reason and gain knowledge from self-willingness. Webster states that the enlightenment was, “a movement of the 18th century that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion”, so in authors such as Voltaire, Locke, and Kant, human freedom, the powers of the human mind, and scientific innovation are presented to support their ideals of human growth. All three of these authors all realise that if humans want to progress, be enlightened, they have to conform to reason, scientific innovations, and have the need for freedom. Although their ideas are pretty persuasive, they all present problems within themselves that …show more content…
Specifically, authors such as Mary Shelley and Karl Marx contradict how scientific innovations can better human development. Immanuel Kant states, “Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage” (Enlightenment Reader, 1). This quote signifies Kant’s ideals of human progression through the freedom to use reason. Immanuel presents three artifacts as to why men will remain in lifelong tutelage which are doctors, pastors, and teachers. He further states, “If I have a book which understands for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a physician who decides my diet and so forth, I need not trouble myself. I need not think, if I can only pay” (Enlightenment Reader, 1). When Immanuel presents these supporting pieces of evidence, it really brings his main topic to life. The society we live in today happens to overuse privileges such as the ones presented by Kant. As opposed to freeing