IMMANUEL KANT An Answer to the Question: "What is Enlightenment?" Konigsberg in Prussia !

"th #e$tember %&'()

Enlightenment is man*s emergen+e ,rom his sel,-in+urre. immaturit/) Immaturit/ is the inabilit/ to use one*s own un.erstan.ing without the gui.an+e o, another) This immaturit/ is sel,-in+urre. i, its +ause is not la+0 o, un.erstan.ing but la+0 o, resolution an. +ourage to use it without the gui.an+e o, another) The motto o, enlightenment is there,ore: #a$ere au.e1 2a3e +ourage to use /our own un.erstan.ing1 La4iness an. +owar.i+e are the reasons wh/ su+h a large $ro$ortion o, men e3en when nature has long eman+i$ate. them ,rom alien gui.an+e 5naturaliter maiorennes6 ne3ertheless gla.l/ remain immature ,or li,e) 7or the same reasons it is all too eas/ ,or others to set themsel3es u$ as their guar.ians) It is so +on3enient to be immature1 I, I ha3e a boo0 to ha3e un.erstan.ing in $la+e o, me a s$iritual a.3iser to ha3e a +ons+ien+e ,or me a .o+tor to 8u.ge m/ .iet ,or me an. so on I nee. not ma0e an/ e,,orts at all) I nee. not thin0 so long as I +an $a/9 others will soon enough ta0e the tiresome 8ob o3er ,or me) The guar.ians who ha3e 0in.l/ ta0en u$on themsel3es the wor0 o, su$er3ision will soon see to it that b/ ,ar the largest $art o, man0in. 5in+lu.ing the entire ,air se:6 shoul. +onsi.er the ste$ ,orwar. to maturit/ not onl/ as .i,,i+ult but also as highl/ .angerous) 2a3ing ,irst in,atuate. their .omesti+ate. animals an. +are,ull/ $re3ente. the .o+ile +reatures ,rom .aring to ta0e a single ste$ without the lea.ing-strings to whi+h the/ are tie. the/ ne:t show them the .anger whi+h threatens them i, the/ tr/ to wal0 unai.e.) Now this .anger is not in ,a+t so 3er/ great ,or the/ woul. +ertainl/ learn to wal0 e3entuall/ a,ter a ,ew ,alls) ;ut an e:am$le o, this 0in. is intimi.ating an. usuall/ ,rightens them o,, ,rom ,urther attem$ts) Thus it is .i,,i+ult ,or ea+h se$arate in.i3i.ual to wor0 his wa/ out o, the immaturit/ whi+h has be+ome almost se+on. nature to him) 2e has e3en grown ,on. o, it an. is reall/ in+a$able ,or the time being o, using his own un.erstan.ing be+ause he was ne3er allowe. to ma0e the attem$t) <ogmas an. ,ormulas those me+hani+al instruments ,or rational use 5or rather misuse6 o, his natural en.owments are the ball an. +hain o, his $ermanent immaturit/) An. i, an/one .i. throw them o,, he woul. still be un+ertain about 8um$ing o3er e3en the narrowest o, tren+hes ,or he woul. be una++ustome. to ,ree mo3ement o, this 0in.) Thus onl/ a ,ew b/ +ulti3ating the9r own min.s ha3e su++ee.e. in ,reeing themsel3es ,rom immaturit/ an. in +ontinuing bol.l/ on their wa/) There is more +han+e o, an entire $ubli+ enlightening itsel,) This is in.ee. almost ine3itable i, onl/ the $ubli+ +on+erne. is le,t in ,ree.om) 7or there will alwa/s be a ,ew who thin0 ,or themsel3es e3en among those a$$ointe. as guar.ians o, the +ommon mass) #u+h guar.ians on+e the/ ha3e themsel3es thrown o,, the /o0e o, immaturit/ will .isseminate the s$irit o, rational res$e+t ,or $ersonal 3alue an. ,or the .ut/ o, all men to thin0 ,or themsel3es) The remar0able thing about this is that i, the $ubli+ whi+h was $re3iousl/ $ut un.er this /o0e b/ the guar.ians is suitabl/ stirre. u$ b/ some o, the latter who are in+a$able o, enlightenment it ma/ subse=uentl/ +om$el the guar.ians themsel3es to remain un.er the /o0e) 7or it is 3er/ harm,ul to $ro$agate $re8u.i+es be+ause the/ ,inall/ a3enge themsel3es on the 3er/ $eo$le who ,irst en+ourage. them 5or whose $re.e+essors .i. so6) Thus a $ubli+ +an onl/ a+hie3e enlightenment slowl/) A re3olution ma/ well $ut an en. to auto+rati+ .es$otism an. to ra$a+ious or $ower-see0ing o$$ression but it will ne3er $ro.u+e a true re,orm in wa/s o, thin0ing) Instea. new $re8u.i+es li0e the ones the/ re$la+e. will ser3e as a leash to +ontrol the great unthin0ing mass) 7or enlightenment o, this 0in. all that is nee.e. is ,ree.om) An. the ,ree.om in =uestion is the most inno+uous ,orm o, all>,ree.om to ma0e $ubli+ use o, one*s reason in all matters) ;ut I hear on all si.es the +r/: <on*t argue1 The

o,,i+er sa/s: <on*t argue get on $ara.e1 The ta:-o,,i+ial: <on*t argue $a/1 The +lerg/man: <on*t argue belie3e1 5?nl/ one ruler in the worl. sa/s: Argue as mu+h as /ou li0e an. about whate3er /ou li0e but obe/16) ) All this means restri+tions on ,ree.om e3er/where) ;ut whi+h sort o, restri+tion $re3ents enlightenment an. whi+h instea. o, hin.ering it +an a+tuall/ $romote it ? I re$l/: The $ubli+ use o, man*s reason must alwa/s be ,ree an. it alone +an bring about enlightenment among men9 the $ri3ate use o, reason ma/ =uite o,ten be 3er/ narrowl/ restri+te. howe3er without un.ue hin.ran+e to the $rogress o, enlightenment) ;ut b/ the $ubli+ use o, one*s own reason I mean that use whi+h an/one ma/ ma0e o, it as a man o, learning a..ressing the entire rea.ing $ubli+) What I term the $ri3ate use o, reason is that whi+h a $erson ma/ ma0e o, it in a $arti+ular +i3il $ost or o,,i+e with whi+h he is entruste.) Now in some a,,airs whi+h a,,e+t the interests o, the +ommonwealth we re=uire a +ertain me+hanism whereb/ some members o, the +ommonwealth must beha3e $urel/ $assi3el/ so that the/ ma/ b/ an arti,i+ial +ommon agreement be em$lo/e. b/ the go3ernment ,or $ubli+ en.s 5or at least .eterre. ,rom 3itiating them6) It is o, +ourse im$ermissible to argue in su+h +ases9 obe.ien+e is im$erati3e) ;ut in so ,ar as this or that in.i3i.ual who a+ts as $art o, the ma+hine also +onsi.ers himsel, as a member o, a +om$lete +ommonwealth or e3en o, +osmo$olitan so+iet/ an. then+e as a man o, learning who ma/ through his writings a..ress a $ubli+ in the truest sense o, the wor. he ma/ *in.ee. argue without harming the a,,airs in whi+h he is em$lo/e. ,or some o, the time in a $assi3e +a$a+it/) Thus it woul. be 3er/ harm,ul i, an o,,i+er re+ei3ing an or.er ,rom his su$eriors were to =uibble o$enl/ while on .ut/ about the a$$ro$riateness or use,ulness o, the or.er in =uestion) 2e must sim$l/ obe/) ;ut he +annot reasonabl/ be banne. ,rom ma0ing obser3ations as a man o, learning on the errors in the militar/ ser3i+e an. ,rom submitting these to his $ubli+ ,or 8u.gement) The +iti4en +annot re,use to $a/ the ta:es im$ose. u$on him9 $resum$tuous +riti+isms o, su+h ta:es where someone is +alle. u$on to $a/ them ma/ be $unishe. as an outrage whi+h +oul. lea. to general insubor.ination) Nonetheless the same +iti4en .oes not +ontra3ene his +i3il obligations i, as a learne. in.i3i.ual he $ubli+l/ 3oi+es his thoughts on the im$ro$riet/ or e3en in8usti+e o, su+h ,is+al measures) In the same wa/ a +lerg/man is boun. to instru+t his $u$ils an. his +ongregation in a++or.an+e with the .o+trines o, the +hur+h he ser3es ,or he was em$lo/e. b/ it on that +on.ition) ;ut as a s+holar he is +om$letel/ ,ree as well as oblige. to im$art to the $ubli+ all his +are,ull/ +onsi.ere. well-intentione. thoughts on the mista0en as$e+ts o, those .o+trines an. to o,,er suggestions ,or a better arrangement o, religious an. e++lesiasti+al a,,airs) An. there is nothing in this whi+h nee. trouble the +ons+ien+e) I9or what he tea+hes in $ursuit o, his .uties as an a+ti3e ser3ant o, the +hur+h is $resente. b/ him as something whi+h he is not em$owere. to tea+h at his own .is+retion but whi+h he is em$lo/e. to e:$oun. in a $res+ribe. manner an. in someone else*s name) 2e will sa/: ?ur +hur+h tea+hes this or that an. these are the arguments it uses) 2e then e:tra+ts as mu+h $ra+ti+al 3alue as $ossible ,or his +ongregation ,rom $re+e$ts to whi+h he woul. not himsel, subs+ribe with ,ull +on3i+tion but whi+h he +an ne3ertheless un.erta0e to e:$oun. sin+e it is not in ,a+t wholl/ im$ossible that the/ ma/ +ontain truth) At all e3ents nothing o$$ose. to the essen+e o, religion is $resent in su+h .o+trines) 7or i, the +lerg/man thought he +oul. ,in. an/thing o, this sort in them he woul. not be able to +arr/ out his o,,i+ial .uties in goo. +ons+ien+e an. woul. ha3e to resign) Thus the use whi+h someone em$lo/e. as a tea+her ma0es o, his reason in the $resen+e o, his +ongregation is $urel/ $ri3ate sin+e a +ongregation howe3er large it is is ne3er an/ more than a .omesti+ gathering) In 3iew o, this he is not an. +annot be ,ree as a $riest sin@ he is a+ting on a +ommission im$ose. ,rom outsi.e) Aon3ersel/ as a s+holar a..ressing the real $ubli+ 5i)e) the worl. at large6 through his writings the +lerg/man ma0ing $ubli+ use o, his reason en8o/s unlimite. ,ree.om to use his own reason an. to s$ea0 in his own $erson) 7or to maintain that the guar.ians o, the $eo$le in s$iritual matters shoul. themsel3es be immature is an absur.it/ whi+h amounts to ma0ing absur.ities $ermanent) ;ut shoul. not a so+iet/ o, +lerg/men ,or e:am$le an e++lesiasti+al s/no. or a 3enerable $resb/ter/ 5as the <ut+h +all it6 be entitle. to +ommit itsel, b/

oath to a +ertain unalterable set o, .o+trines in or.er to se+ure ,or all time a +onstant guar.ianshi$ o3er ea+h o, its members an. through them o3er the $eo$le ? I re$l/ that this is =uite im$ossible) A +ontra+t o, this 0in. +on+lu.e. with a 3iew to $re3enting all ,urther enlightenment o, man0in. ,or e3er is absolutel/ null an. 3oi. e3en i, it is rati,ie. b/ the su$reme $ower b/ Im$erial <iets an. the most solemn $ea+e treaties) ?ne age +annot enter into an allian+e on oath to $ut the ne:t age in a $osition where it woul. be im$ossible ,or it to e:ten. an. +orre+t its 0nowle.ge $arti+ularl/ on su+h im$ortant matters or to ma0e an/ $rogress whatsoe3er in enlightenment) This woul. be a +rime against human nature whose original .estin/ lies $re+isel/ in su+h $rogress) Later generations are thus $er,e+tl/ entitle. to .ismiss these agreements as unauthorise. an. +riminal) To test whether an/ $arti+ular measure +an be agree. u$on as a law ,or a $eo$le we nee. onl/ as0 whether a $eo$le +oul. well im$ose su+h a law u$on itsel,) This might well be $ossible ,or a s$e+i,ie. short $erio. as a means o, intro.u+ing a +ertain or.er $en.ing as it were a better solution) This woul. also mean that ea+h +iti4en $arti+ularl/ the +lerg/man woul. be gi3en a ,ree han. as a s+holar to +omment $ubli+l/ i)e) in his writings on the ina.e=ua+ies o, +urrent institutions) Meanwhile the newl/ establishe. or.er woul. +ontinue to e:ist until $ubli+ insight into the nature o, su+h matters ha. $rogresse. an. $ro3e. itsel, to the $oint where b/ general +onsent 5i, not unanimousl/6 a $ro$osal +oul. be submitte. to the +rown) This woul. see0 to $rote+t the +ongregations who ha. ,or instan+e agree. to alter their religious establishment in a++or.an+e with their own notions o, what higher insight is but it woul. not tr/ to obstru+t those who wante. to let things remain as be,ore) ;ut it is absolutel/ im$ermissible to agree e3en ,or a single li,etime to a $ermanent religious +onstitution whi+h no-one might $ubli+l/ =uestion) 7or this woul. 3irtuall/ nulli,/ a $hase in man*s u$war. $rogress thus ma0ing it ,ruitless an. e3en .etrimental to subse=uent generations) A man ma/ ,or his own $erson an. e3en then onl/ ,or a limite. $erio. $ost$one enlightening himsel, in matters he ought to 0now about) ;ut to renoun+e su+h enlightenment +om$letel/ whether ,or his own $erson or e3en more so ,or later generations means 3iolating an. tram$ling un.er,oot the sa+re. rights o, man0in.) ;ut something whi+h a $eo$le ma/ not e3en im$ose u$on itsel, +an still less be im$ose. u$on it b/ a monar+h9 ,or his legislati3e authorit/ .e$en.s $re+isel/ u$on his uniting the +olle+ti3e will o, the $eo$le in his own) #o long as he sees to it that all true or imagine. im$ro3ements are +om$atible with the +i3il or.er he +an otherwise lea3e his sub8e+ts to .o whate3er the/ ,in. ne+essar/ ,or their sal3ation whi+h is none o, his business) ;ut it is his business to sto$ an/one ,or+ibl/ hin.ering others ,rom wor0ing as best the/ +an to .e,ine an. $romote their sal3ation) It in.ee. .etra+ts ,rom his ma8est/ i, he inter,eres in these a,,airs b/ sub8e+ting the writings in whi+h his sub8e+ts attem$t to +lari,/ their religious i.eas to go3ernmental su$er3ision) This a$$lies i, he .oes so a+ting u$on his own e:alte. o$inions> in whi+h +ase he e:$oses himsel, to the re$roa+h: Aaesar non est su$ra Brammati+os>but mu+h more so i, he .emeans his high authorit/ so ,ar as to su$$ort the s$iritual .es$otism o, a ,ew t/rants within his state against the rest o, his sub8e+ts) I, it is now as0e. whether we at $resent li3e in an enlightene. age the answer is: No but we .o li3e in an age o, enlightenment) As things are at $resent we still ha3e a long wa/ to go be,ore men as a whole +an be in a $osition 5or +an e3er be $ut into a $osition6 o, using their own un.erstan.ing +on,i.entl/ an. well in religious matters without outsi.e gui.an+e) ;ut we .o ha3e .istin+t in.i+ations that the wa/ is now being +leare. ,or them to wor0 ,reel/ in this .ire+tion an. that the obsta+les to uni3ersal enlightenment to man*s emergen+e ,rom his sel,-in+urre. immaturit/ are gra.uall/ be+oming ,ewer) In this res$e+t our age is the age o, enlightenment the +entur/ o, 7re.eri+0) A $rin+e who .oes not regar. it as beneath him to sa/ that he +onsi.ers it his .ut/ in religious matters not to $res+ribe an/thing to his $eo$le but to allow them +om$lete ,ree.om a $rin+e who thus e3en .e+lines to a++e$t the $resum$tuous title o, tolerant is himsel, enlightene.) 2e .eser3es to be $raise. b/ a grate,ul $resent an. $osterit/ as the man who ,irst liberate. man0in. ,rom immaturit/ 5as ,ar as go3ernment is +on+erne.6 an. who le,t all

men ,ree to use their own reason in all matters o, +ons+ien+e) Un.er his rule e++lesiasti+al .ignitaries notwithstan.ing their o,,i+ial .uties ma/ in their +a$a+it/ as s+holars ,reel/ an. $ubli+l/ submit to the 8u.gement o, the worl. their 3er.i+ts an. o$inions e3en i, these .e3iate here In. there ,rom ortho.o: .o+trine) This a$$lies e3en more to all others who are not restri+te. b/ an/ o,,i+ial .uties) This s$irit o, ,ree.om is also s$rea.ing abroa. e3en where it has to struggle with outwar. obsta+les im$ose. b/ go3ernments whi+h misun.erstan. their own ,un+tion) 7or su+h go3ernments an now witness a shining e:am$le o, how ,ree.om ma/ e:ist without in the least 8eo$ar.ising $ubli+ +on+or. an. the unit/ o, the +ommonwealth) Men will o, their own a++or. gra.uall/ wor0 their wa/ out o, barbarism so long as arti,i+ial measures are not .eliberatel/ a.o$te. to 0ee$ them in it) I ha3e $ortra/e. matters o, religion as the ,o+al $oint o, enlightenment i)e) o, man*s emergen+e ,rom his sel,-in+urre. immaturit/) This is ,irstl/ be+ause our rulers ha3e no interest in assuming the role o, guar.ians o3er their sub8e+ts so ,ir as the arts an. s+ien+es are +on+erne. an. se+on.l/ be+ause religious immaturit/ is the most $erni+ious an. .ishonourable 3ariet/ o, all) ;ut the attitu.e o, min. o, a hea. o, state who ,a3ours ,ree.om in the arts an. s+ien+es e:ten.s e3en ,urther ,or he realises that there is no .anger e3en to his legislation i, he allows his sub8e+ts to ma0e $ubli+ use o, their own reason an. to $ut be,ore the $ubli+ their thoughts on better wa/s o, .rawing u$ laws e3en i, this entails ,orthright +riti+ism o, the +urrent legislation) We ha3e be,ore us a brilliant e:am$le o, this 0in. in whi+h no monar+h has /et sur$asse. the one to whom we now $a/ tribute) ;ut onl/ a ruler who is himsel, enlightene. an. has no ,ar o, $hantoms /et who li0ewise has at han. a well-.is+i$line. an. numerous arm/ to guarantee $ubli+ se+urit/ ma/ sa/ what no re$ubli+ woul. .are to sa/: Argue as mu+h as /ou li0e an. about whate3er /ou li0e but obe/1 This re3eals to us a strange an. une:$e+te. $attern in human a,,airs 5su+h as we shall alwa/s ,in. i, we +onsi.er them in the wi.est sense in whi+h nearl/ e3er/thing is $ara.o:i+al6) A high .egree o, +i3il ,ree.om seems a.3antageous to a $eo$le*s intelle+tual ,ree.om /et it also sets u$ insu$erable barriers to it) Aon3ersel/ a lesser .egree o, +i3il ,ree.om gi3es intelle+tual ,ree.om enough room to e:$an. to its ,ullest e:tent) Thus on+e the germ on whi+h nature has la3ishe. most +are>man*s in+lination an. 3o+ation to thin0 ,reel/--has .e3elo$e. within this har. shell it gra.uall/ rea+ts u$on the mentalit/ o, the $eo$le who thus gra.uall/ be+ome in+reasingl/ able to a+t ,reel/ E3entuall/ it e3en in,luen+es the $rin+i$les o, go3ernments whi+h ,in. that the/ +an themsel3es $ro,it b/ treating man who is more than a ma+hine in a manner a$$ro$riate to his .ignit/)