What is Enlightenment?

Have the courage to use your own understanding - that is the motto of enlightenment. - Immanuel Kant The Enlightenment is one of the most important and contested periods in the history of philosophy. The problems it addressed such as the proper extent of individual freedom and the challenging of tradition resonate as much today as when they were first debated. Of all philosophers it is arguably Kant who took such questions most seriously addressing them above all in his celebrated short essay An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment? In this engaging and lucid book Samuel Fleischacker first explains and assesses Kantâs philosophy of Enlightenment. He then considers critics of Kantâs views - from Burke and Hegel to Horkheimer and Adorno - and figures he regards as having extended Kantâs notion of enlightenment such as Feuerbach Marx Habermas Foucault and Rawls. Throughout he demonstrates how Kant holds two distinct theories of enlightenment. On the one hand Kant proposes a âminimalâ view where to be enlightened is simply to engage in critical public discussion allowing diversity of opinion to flourish. On the other he argues that Kant elsewhere calls for a âmaximalâ view of enlightenment where for example an enlightened person cannot believe in a traditional religion. With great skill Fleischacker shows how these two views are taken in a multitude of directions by both critics and advocates of Kantâs philosophy. Arguing that Kantâs minimal enlightenment is a precondition for a healthy proliferation of cultures religious faiths and political movements What is Enlightenment? is a fascinating introduction to a key aspect of Kantâs thought and a compelling analysis of philosophical thinking about the Enlightenment. Including helpful chapter summaries and guides to further reading it is ideal for anyone studying Kant or the philosophy of the Enlightenment as well as those in related disciplines such as politics history and religious studies. . Language: English