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Blog Post #1 – Enlightenment

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Hello, everyone! My name is Erick Cumbe and it’s my first semester at Baruch College as a transfer student. I actually went to City College but decided to come into Baruch since it’s a business school and I want to major in Finance. I never imagined doing such a drastic change but now that I’m here, I couldn’t be any happier and I hope that everything goes well.

After reading Immanuel Kant’s response to “What is Enlightenment?”, I took it as Kant basically saying that Enlightenment is when a human being reaches a full level of maturity, or in other words, someone who grows up and makes decisions on his/her own. For example, a child, for instance, hasn’t gone through enlightenment because he/she still needs one’s assistance. In this case, they will need their parents to eat, to bathe, or to even just go to the park. If you think about it their parents, think and speak for them because they decide what their child should do. This means that a child doesn’t have their own voice when it comes to actually controlling his/her life. On the other hand, someone who is older perhaps an independent adult probably does manage to reach enlightenment because he/she doesn’t depend on others. Which means that they’ve reached a level of maturity to actually think on their own and make their own decisions, which in my opinion is what Kant meant when he said to “Have courage to use your own understanding!” (Enlightenment 1).

Through Kant’s response, he mentions many reasons why people never reach a certain level of maturity. The one that stood out to me the most is when he mentions that people stay immature because they can be cowards. Although it sounds mean, I do agree with this statement because it doesn’t matter what you do in life you always have to have the courage to take that first step and actually do it. Many people don’t and it’s not because they’re necessarily scared about the situation but because they’re afraid of being judged. For example, trends that happen nowadays because of social media and the internet, there will always be those people who instantly jump on it because they are cowards in my opinion. People like these just follow the trends just to be cool or on top of things but they never really developed a voice of their own because they’re being nothing but a follower, instead of a leader. That’s why I agree with Kant because in situations like these it proves one way that people can be immature.

In all honesty, I believe that we don’t live in an enlightenment age, I don’t think we ever will because it’s simply not possible. If we follow the definition that Kant gave about actually reaching enlightenment it’ll mean that we can’t ask for help or that we shouldn’t let anyone speak for us. For example, in the business field, you could be the most courageous person and always voice out your opinion but you wouldn’t do that towards your boss because you’ll end up without a job. I also believe that you can’t go through your entire life without asking for help, everyone needs help in life sooner or later. In my opinion, the definition of enlightenment should be “when one takes charge of their own life and isn’t afraid of receiving help.”

Blog Post #1

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Hi everyone. My name is Saqib and I am a sophmore majoring in finance. I am from Queens and have been living here my entire life. Basketball is one of my passions and it was of my favorite sports to watch as a kid. I was on my high school’s basketball team my sophmore and junior year, and it became a huge part of my life. However, in January 2014, I was hit by a car during a late night run and could not play anymore. This forced me to take a break and not play basketball seriously anymore. Despite this, I still play recreationally at my local gym.

According to Immanuel Kant, the Enlightment is the process in which one rids themselves of immaturity. Immaturity, as Kant defines, “is the inability to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another” (Enlightment 1). He is saying that society is too reliant on one another and lacks the courage to use their own knowledge and judgement to make their own educated decisions. Although this definition is straightforward, achieving it is not at all. He argues that mankind struggles to achieve enlightenment because it has become almost second nature of mankind to rely on others. He also states that ‘laziness and cowardice’ are two traits that plague us as a society from realizing enlightenment. It is extremely easy and convenient to follow another person’s lead instead of using one’s own judgement. For example Kant explains, “I need not think as long as I can pay” (Enlightenment 1). Through this he is saying that as long as one has guidance and supports or follows it, he or she does not need to make their own decisions.

Despite us constantly evolving as a society, I believe we still have a long way to go before we can truly identify ourselves as enlightened. From a young age we are taught to take advantage of things given to us. When things are not given to us we often struggle, and in some cases completely refuse to do what we should. Additionally, peer pressure is still relevant and influences many people as they do things solely because people around them are doing it. Although Kant wrote this article in 1784, his arguments still hold merit as we still have not achieved enlightenment as a society.

Blog Post 1: Enlightenment

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Hi everyone, my name is Karen Yeung. I’m a freshman and will probably major in accounting.

 

Kant believes that enlightenment is when one rises up and comes out from his own “immaturity” that they have caused. He defines “immaturity” as the incapability of using one’s own brain to think for themselves without the help and acknowledgement of others. I believe that Kant is trying to say that enlightenment is attained when one is able to think on their own without being afraid to voice their thoughts. In order to achieve complete enlightenment, one should have full control and freedom over their own opinions without being influenced by people with authority, or institutions and society as a whole.

 

One of the main reasons Kant thinks enlightenment is difficult to achieve is because people do not take initiative, where he describes it as “laziness and cowardice.” When there are others who are willing to step in and guide them, “it is so convenient to be immature!” The dependence on others that will think for them is what Kant mentions as “immaturity.” For example, it is easier to follow the majority because it is what most people think or agree on. One does not have to form their own thoughts if they can simply get away with following what everyone else says. As well as laziness, cowardice plays a role in why enlightenment is hard to achieve. Kant uses the analogy of the domesticated animals to prove his point. If one is accustomed to having others guide them, they are not exposed to thinking for themselves. Consequently, thinking on their own and using reason would be unfamiliar to them because they are afraid of the unknown, and that “usually frightens them off from further attempts.”

 

Based on Kant’s definition, I think that we do live in an enlightened age, but not completely. Even though some people rely on others and follow the norm, many people still think for themselves. I think social media allows people to voice their opinions and say whatever they want.