What+is+Enlightenment?


 * Read the sources and then answer the questions **

**Source: ** Immanuel Kant, //What is the Enlightenment?// (Was ist Äufklarung?), 1784, Excerpts. Immanuel Kant, 1724-1804, was a German philosopher, and was most well known for his work in metaphysics. He is responsible for the use of the word "enlightenment" to describe this age of reason, though the expression "age of enlightenment" didn't catch on until later. He also coined the motto of the enlightenment, "sapere aude" dare to think. Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man's inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere aude! [Dare to think!] "Have courage to use your own reason!"- that is the motto of enlightenment. Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why so great a portion of mankind […] remains under lifelong tutelage, and why it is so easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. […] 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 - others will easily undertake the irksome work for me. […] After the guardians have first made their domestic cattle dumb and have made sure that these placid creatures will not dare take a single step without the harness of the cart to which they are tethered, the guardians then show them the danger which threatens if they try to go alone. […] But that the public should enlighten itself is more possible; indeed, if only freedom is granted enlightenment is almost sure to follow. For there will always be some independent thinkers, even among the established guardians of the great masses, who, after throwing off the yoke of tutelage from their own shoulders, will disseminate the spirit of the rational appreciation of both their own worth and every man's vocation for thinking for himself. . . . For this enlightenment, however, nothing is required but freedom, and indeed the most harmless among all the things to which this term can properly be applied. It is the freedom to make public use of one's reason at every point. […] If we are asked, "Do we now live in an enlightened age?" the answer is, "No ," but we do live in an age of enlightenment. As things now stand, much is lacking which prevents men from being, or easily becoming, capable of correctly using their own reason in religious matters with assurance and free from outside direction. But on the other hand, we have clear indications that the field has now been opened wherein men may freely deal with these things and that the obstacles to general enlightenment or the release from self-imposed tutelage are gradually being reduced. In this respect, this is the age of enlightenment […].

1) What can you learn from this source about the aims of Enlightenment? [6] 2) Why can this source be considered the funding keystone of Enlightnment ideas? Explain your answer making reference to the source. [7]

Source: John Locke, //Natural Rights of Man// "All men have certain natural rights: the right to life, liberty and property. The purpose of the government is to protect these rights. If it fails to do so the people may set up a new government.

3) What does Locke suggest that people should do if governments fail to protect their natural rights? [6]