Thoughts on Enlightenment

Near death experiences taught us one thing: In the end we still want to be enlightened. Enlightenment is a blinding experience to those who are adapted to darkness. However, this illumination helps us see the world in different perspective. To those who are afraid of the possibilities would not give up the convenience of what is known. To those who are encouraged would explore and decide on the unknown.

WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT

Edited by: Poch Suzara

Answering the question of “What is Enlightenment?,” the German philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote:

“Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one’s understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another. Sapere Aude! [dare to know] ‘Have courage to use your own understanding!’–that is the motto of enlightenment.”

According to Kant, “laziness and cowardice are the reasons why so great a proportion of men, … gladly remain in lifelong immaturity, and why it is so easy for others to establish themselves as their guardians. It is so easy to be immature. If I have a book to serve as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all. I need not think, if only I can pay: others will readily undertake the irksome work for me.”

Kant compares the unthinking masses to domestic livestock and says, “Having first made their domestic livestock dumb, and having carefully made sure that these docile creatures will not take a single step without the go-cart to which they are harnessed, these guardians then show them the danger that threatens them, should they attempt to walk alone. Now this danger is not actually so great, for after falling a few times they would in the end certainly learn to walk; but an example of this kind makes men timid and usually frightens them out of all further attempts.”

Let us dare to know. Let us dare to ask questions that we are told not to ask. Let us take the road less traveled. Let us not be followers but be prophets unto ourselves. Let us explore the unknown. The worst thing that can happen is that we find nothing. But we shall never know until we try.

If there is one thing I can be certain of is that I am ignorant. However, I am not as ignorant as to not know that I am ignorant. Therefore I will continue wondering, exploring and daring to know.