What is Enlightenment?

• Enlightenment is individuals overcoming their self-imposed inability to use their own understanding without external guidance.
• Nonage arises not from a lack of understanding, but from a lack of courage to think independently.
• "Dare to know!" (Sapere aude) encapsulates the motto of the Enlightenment, urging individuals to have the courage to use their own understanding.
• Laziness and cowardice are primary reasons people remain in a state of nonage, preferring the comfort of being guided by others.
• Guardians perpetuate nonage by infantilizing their "domestic cattle" which discourages independent thought and action.
• Overcoming nonage requires individual effort, which is initially difficult due to lack of practice and ingrained habits.
• Dogmas and formulas, when abused, act as chains that keep individuals in perpetual nonage.
• Public enlightenment is more achievable than individual enlightenment, especially when freedom is granted.
• Independent thinkers are essential to break the yoke of nonage, promoting the value and duty of thinking for oneself.
• Prejudices, when instilled, can backfire on those who impose them, hindering true reform of thought.
• Enlightenment requires the freedom to use one's reason publicly in all matters.

Public vs. Private Use of Reason

• Public use of reason refers to a scholar using their intellect before the reading public.
• Private use of reason is when one employs reason within a specific civic or professional role.
• Restrictions on the private use of reason (within a civic post) may be necessary for societal function but should not impede public discourse.
• An officer must obey orders but, as a scholar, can critique the military service's shortcomings publicly.
• Citizens must pay taxes but, as scholars, can object to the possible injustice of such levies through public discourse.
• Pastors must preach in line with church doctrine but, as scholars, can share their considered thoughts on doctrinal errors publicly.
• A society or church council cannot bind itself to unalterable doctrines, as this obstructs future enlightenment and human progress.
• Each generation has the right to repudiate agreements that prevent progress in insight and enlightenment.
• Laws should be evaluated on whether a people could reasonably impose such a law upon themselves, allowing for temporary orders that permit ongoing criticism and reform proposals.
• Preventing public questioning of established religious constitutions halts human progress and violates the rights of man.
• Rulers should not dictate religious matters but ensure no one is forcibly prevented from pursuing their own salvation.
• Meddling in religious views exposes rulers to criticism.

The Age of Enlightenment

• The current era is an age of enlightenment, marked by progress towards using reason confidently in religious matters, though complete realization is still distant.
• Hindrances to general enlightenment are gradually diminishing.
• A prince embodies enlightenment by granting complete freedom in religious matters and allowing the use of reason in matters of conscience.
• Such a ruler deserves praise for liberating mankind from governmental dependence and allowing individual reasoning.
• Freedom of thought and expression does not necessarily lead to public disorder.
• Rulers have little interest in controlling arts and sciences, but nonage in religion is most harmful and dishonorable.
• An enlightened sovereign permits public discourse on better constitutions and criticism of existing laws.
• A ruler needs a well-disciplined army to guarantee public peace to allow freedom of expression.
• A large degree of civic freedom can paradoxically create barriers to intellectual freedom, while a lesser degree can allow free spirit to expand.
• Nature cultivates the urge for free thought, which then influences public thought and enables freer action, eventually impacting government and dignity of man.