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In 1784, the Enlightenment had been going strong for decades, prompting Immanuel Kant to publish an essay attempting to clarify exactly what Enlightenment was and the goals of this powerful eighteenth century intellectual movement.
Kant defined Enlightenment primarily as the abandonment of nonage - a state of self-imposed intellectual immaturity. The enlightened individual is one who is capable of questioning prevailing beliefs and trusting their own understanding - especially in matters of religion. The essay does a brilliant job of briefly presenting the key values of the Enlightenment: freedom, nature, toleration, and a general optimism about the ability of human beings to shape their own lives in a free society.
Students in AP European History and Western Civilization courses should find this lecture helpful.
