Tutelage, By Immanuel Kant

According to Immanuel Kant, enlightenment was a man’s release from “self-incurred tutelage.” Enlightenment was the process by which the public could rid themselves of intellectual bondage after centuries of slumbering. After giving a brief analysis of cause why tutelage occurred, he proposes the requirements for enlightenment. Immanuel Kant wants the public to think freely, act judiciously and “treated in accordance with their dignity.” Kant says that tutelage occurred because of many reasons and the first is because of laziness. Men thought it was inconvenient to reason and enlarge their knowledge. Simple obedience was breaking to their minds. Kant explained that the second reason is cowardice and supplemented their laziness. The general
The foremost requirement is freedom. He believes that freedom to express our self honestly is paramount for enlightenment. This is important because when a man is allowed to freely express his thoughts and opinions without any penalization, he will offer any ideas without fear and restrictions. Kant is actually promoting freedom of speech and tolerance of diverse viewpoints. But he also warned that the expression of one’s opinion must not prevent him from discharging his duties to the public. His second point is the leaders must be enlightened first in order for the public to be enlightened. Until the monarch is enlightened, he will not grant his subjects the necessary freedom to think without considering opposing viewpoints as an act of insubordination. He makes a bold statement about monarchism when he says “his law giving authority rests on his uniting the general public will in his own” (Internet Modern History Sourcebook 1). He’s actually saying the monarch’s commands and wishes should be representation of the people and their interests. He stresses that a republican government should comply with the wishes of its citizens and not force them into blind and foolish obedience. He heavily expresses the need for a government that does not intimidate its citizens, but rather encourage them. While it is true that monarchies abused their authority by stripping the people of education and forcing obedience, Immanuel Kant blames the general public for tutelage. Kant reiterates that enlightenment is “is the escape of men from self-their incurred tutelage” (Internet Modern History Sourcebook 1). Remarkably, it is society’s breaking away from the intellectual chain of the dark