Free yourself: think

‘Sapere Aude! Have the courage to use your own understanding!’ Said Kant (Emphasis his). In writing this, Kant was expanding Horace’s meaning of Sapere Aude whose literal translation is ‘dare to be wise.’

In 1784, Kant published his essay, In Answer to the Question: ‘What is Enlightenment?’ which remains as relevant today, as it was over 200 year ago. Before he could attempt to enlighten others, Kant wanted to answer the question for himself. Kant’s view was that ignorance, which he referred to as ‘immaturity’, was self-incurred if it was caused by lack of resolution and courage to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another.

Kant’s intention was that every person would become their own master by liberating themselves from prejudice and superstition. Indeed, this emancipation was not for men only. At a time when women had the same status as children and insane persons, Kant radically wanted women to gain the ability to think for themselves.

However, Kant was also aware that the pursuit of independent thought is not without its challenges. Chief amongst them is apprehension. He warned against those who instill fear by taking it upon themselves:

‘to see to it that by far the largest part of mankind (including the entire fair sex) should consider the step to maturity not only as difficult but also as highly dangerous.’

They do so by showing them ‘the danger which threatens them if they try to walk unaided.’ Vitriolic internet trolls take heed. But Kant was also encouraging towards nascent thinkers,

‘Now this danger is not in fact so very great, for they would certainly learn to walk eventually after a few falls. But an example of this kind is intimidating and usually frightens them off from further attempts.’

Kant wanted everyone to overcome laziness, cowardice and fear in order to think for themselves. He saw the duty as falling on those who have achieved a measure of independence of thought to ‘disseminate the spirit of rational respect for personal value and for the duty of all men to think for themselves.’

As a corollary, he was an ardent supporter of the freedom of expression. The class of philosophers, he said, should not be allowed to ‘disappear or remain silent, but should be allowed to speak publicly to shed light on the affairs of Kings.’ He goes on,

‘The public use of reason must always be free, and it alone can bring about enlightenment among men.’

The pursuit of truth and the ability to think for oneself is a dynamic process. As Gotthold Ephraim Lessing who would point out, truth should always be out of reach, as the pursuit of it matters more than its possession, because the latter results in hubris, indolence and passivity. Kant saw that using one’s own understanding is not a static condition, but a continuous process leading to further self-emancipation. So that the age he lived in, which has been referred to as the Age of Reason, was not yet enlightened but still in the process of becoming so. But change is possible in individuals and by extension society, given enough time, because as Friedrich Nietzsche points out, ‘the intellectual faculty itself is an evolution.’

Thus, the courage to use one’s own understanding is a process that takes root slowly.

The only way to work (and it is work), out of ignorance is to make an attempt to use the one’s own understanding. Over time, Kant points out, one will become accustomed to free movement of this kind and continue boldly on one’s way.

And so Sapere Aude! Let that be the rallying phrase that encourages each one to have the courage to use their own understanding.

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