How did Kant define Enlightenment? Use Kants definition to discuss whether either Rousseau or Marx is an Enlightenment figure.

How did Kant define Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another. (Kant, 1784) According to Kant enlightenment is to Have courage to use your own understanding! outside the tutoring of another, (Kant, 1784). He defines the lack of courage as self incurred immaturity, suggesting enlightenment is to be, having the courage for autonomy, to think for oneself. He further defined his approach to knowledge as the middle way, (Kant, 1781) between those who focused on experience and science (phenomenal) and those who focused on (noumenal) belief and faith. Kants definition of enlightenment did not just cover the social issues of the time but also the political. He considered discipline important, but he considered freedom to question laws and rules in public arenas imperative to enlightenment highlighted in this quote argue as much as you like and about whatever you like but obey (Kant, 1784). So rather than simply following laws out of fear, enlightenment is to have thought about them to the point where you would choose the law for yourself. In fact anything that prevented people from seeking knowledge for oneself was considered unenlightened. One age cannot enter into an alliance on oath to put the next age in a position where it would be impossible for it to extend and correct its knowledge, particularly on such important matters, or to make any progress whatsoever in enlightenment. (Kant, 1784) Kant, did not consider the setting of a doctrine to be followed by others was the pursuit of enlightenment. He called it a crime against human nature. Is Marx an enlightened figure as defined by Kant. Marx is not an enlightened figure as defined by Kant. Marx draws on the sentiments of his philosophical predecessors, rather than his writings being the product of independent thought, which would as suggested by Kant lead to enlightenment. Rather Marx chooses the dialectic approach, drawing on the thoughts of others taking those a-posing ideas and synthesising a new way of thinking. Though this is a new way of thinking, the origin stems from old thoughts. Marx in his writing drew on many different views. From Rousseaus (1750) discourse, a dislike of the nature of the empire and civilized societies need of private property to create need and their effect on the natural state of the human as virtuous and moral. What, then, is precisely the issue in this question of luxury? To know which of the following is more important to empires: to be brilliant and momentary or virtuous and lasting......let them learn for once that with money one has everything except morals and citizens. (Rousseau, 1750) Marx defined estranged labour as the alienation from ones own nature for economic gain. Here he highlights this Wages are a direct consequence of estranged labor, and estranged labor is the direct cause of private property. The downfall of the one must therefore involve the downfall of the other. (Marx, 1844)

Rousseau, (1754) further elaborates on this need for private property to create inequality. Marx went on to co-construct the communist manifesto (1848) which highlights the inequality and class struggle between those who have and those who have not. By its very definition, the communist manifesto defines a new way to follow. He did not write to challenge others minds to think for themselves but rather his writings were designed to rally others to follow him. Highlighted in this line In short, the Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things..... WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE! (Marx & Engels,1888) The communist manifesto is in fact a doctrine designed as guidance for others; Kant defines anything intended as guidance is against enlightenment. As it was commissioned by the communist league of its day, Marx eventually became the figurehead of the communist movement and one of the leaders of its social, political and economic view, which later became known as Marxism. In conclusion, Kant suggests enlightenment to be autonomously thinking beyond what is already thought and daring to know for oneself. Marx though a prolific thinker does not fully embody what Kant describes as enlightenment, rather he takes what is already thought and synthesises it, applying it to a new way. Furthermore, Kant suggested that the design of a doctrine to be followed by future generations was unenlightened and a crime against human nature. Marxs co authors the communist manifesto which would discount him as an enlightened figure as defined by Kant. Bibliography

Kant, I. (1781). The Critique of pure reason. Penn: Penn State Electronic Classics Series . Kant, I. (1784). An Answer to the Question: "What is Enlightenment?". Retrieved from Project Gutenberg Consortia Center: http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/WorldeBookLibrary.com/whatenli.htm Marx, K. (1844). Estranged Labour. Retrieved from Marxist Internet Archives: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/labour.htm Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1888). The Communist Manifesto. Retrieved from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61 Rousseau, J.-J. (1750). Discourse on the Arts of Sciences. Adelaide: University of Adelaide Library (Kindle Edition). Rousseau, J.-J. (1754). A Discourse Upon The Origin And The Foundation Of The Inequality Among Mankind. Dijon: The Academy of Dijon.