Thesis: In his essay "What Is Enlightenment?" Immanuel Kant outlined a categorical imperative on which to base all moral decisions.
- German philosopher: 1724-1804
- Metaphysical Foundation of Morals- 1785
- set forth categorical imperative
- Categorical imperative- would you want the moral principle underlying your decisions to be elevated to a universal law?
- Golden Rule of sorts
- immaturity is holding man back
- fear of taking initiative, doing things independently
- leads to "guardians" being allowed to take control of populations because people would rather have their decisions made for them than do it themselves
- even if they escape people have forgotten how to do things themselves
- all that is required for enlightenment is freedom
- freedom requires the public use of one's reason
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