I chose to do a peer response for Barry because, I both agree and disagree with some of the points made. When Kant opens by saying “Enlightenment is the human being’s emergence from his self-incurred minority” I believe that he was referring to enlightenment as an emergence from a form of slavery not that enlightenment, itself, is a form of such. Enlightenment allows people to think for themselves rather than being docile and obeying what is commonly accepted (which in Frederick Douglas’ case was the institution of slavery).

However the points you made comparing and contrasting Kants views of enlightenment to Douglass’ I find to be true. I also liked the quotes you used from “The Narrative of Frederick Douglass”, they are incredibly powerful and essential to the topic. Kant seems to believe that enlightenment is not achievable alone. I believe there are different kinds of enlightenment and some are absolutely achievable by one’s self.  In Frederick Douglass’ story Mr. Auld said “A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master—to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world”. You are able to learn new things about the world through books and experience and I do believe that this attained knowledge is a form of enlightenment. Douglass’ master seem to agree with Kant’s point of enlightenment being an “emergence” from a form of slavery. Mr. Auld forbid his wife from teaching Douglass because he knew this form of enlightenment would open his eyes to many injustices. Mr. Auld didn’t like the idea of an “unmanageable” slave. It was then that Douglass realized that enlightenment was (as Barry quoted), a “pathway from slavery to freedom”. Lastly, Barry finishes off his post by saying “It is a process that ends with knowledge according to Kant but that is not the sole basis for freedom”. I completely agree with this statement but not to say that Kant’s and Douglass’ ideas of enlightenment are vastly different, they just reflect their different life experiences. For Kant knowledge is a form of enlightenment, for Douglass knowledge equals freedom.