Enlightenment
... not argue” as such restrictions of freedom, arguing that it is ideas like this that keep men restricted. Although Kant argues for freedom, he does distinguish between the public use of reason and the private use. He states that public uses “must always be free” while the private use “may often be very narrowly restricted without particularly hindering the progress of enlightenment” . Kant uses the taxpayer as an example. It is not right for a taxpayer to use private reason to justify not paying taxes to the tax collector, but it is poignant for him to bring public the reasons why he feels he should not be obligated to pay taxes. In the latter, the taxpayer brings to knowledge to the public his logic and reason. Rather than to just accept the tax rate, he challenges the reason behind the rates and invites the public to do so as well. Kant also explains how those who have under oath accepted logic and promised never to challenge, those such as the clergy, should enlighten themselves. Kant explains, “such a contract, is absolutely null and void” . He explains that it is “a crime against humanity” . In order for descendants to accept logic that has been challenged through time and/or progression of modern thought. Kant argues that he does not live in an enlightened age, but rather an age of enlightenment. He believes that by through the work of enlightenment pioneers, the general public been inspired to think freely with motivation to seek reason for oneself without the fear of overstepping ones ability to think. Kant focuses on religion as a restriction of enlightenment and feels that religious incompetence “is not only the most harmful but also the most degrading of all” . He feels that religion retracts any thought or study into the field of arts and sciences, especially with those that are in disagreement with religious text and/or established thought. Kant stresses that enlightenment of men is a reflection of nature and the ability to become liberated from unchallenged thought. Similiarly, the government of men must allow this free thinking and allow men to evole from lemmings into men able to explore and discover reality and truth in order to maintain pride in ones reason. Like Kant, enlightenment thinker John Locke inspired thought and influence into Enlightenment thinking. Locke puts focus in the roles of religion and civil interests; he attempts to “distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion and to settle the just bound that lie between the one and the other” . Locke would best define Enlightenment as mans ability to freely accept belief based on logic and reason rather than through threat of punishment by civil laws established through authority; Locke felt “Idea is the object of thinking” Locke feels that civil interest involves the possessions of man and the ability to enjoy life and protect what he has earned. In order to protect these civil liberties, the public should protect these rights of man and frighten those who threaten these rights with punishments. In terms of religion, Locke feels that because no man can speak for God, then no man should be compelled to follow any religion. If one only follows religion because he is told to do so by an authority, than he does not truly believe the religion and is not truly faithful. Locke explains “All the life and power of true religion consists in the inward and full persuasion of the mind; and faith is not faith without believing” . Locke feels that this hypocrisy is a sin in itself and is looked upon worse than if one held belief contrary to that of what his authority told him to follow. Similarly, it is pointless for authority figures to punish non-believes for not conforming because one cannot be compelled into belief of his “inward judgment” through an “outward force” . Locke explains that the only way for man to accept beliefs of ideas is through reasoning. Forcing one into belief by threats of punishment or the use of law by authority does not bring true belief to men. Man can only truly accept and understand belief only through logic and reason. The salvation of man is not determined by the civil courts and similarly by the beliefs of civil authority. Locke explains, “that all the power of civil government relates only to men’s civil interests, is confined to the care of the things of this world, and hath nothing to do with the world to come” . Religion held with high importance to Locke; his ideas of free though, logic and reason often clash with the established views of religion. Locke felt that a church is a free society and that man should be able to choose his church. He feels that no man should become a member of a church based solely on the fact that his parents are of the same church. Man should choose a church after logically deciding for himself the proper church; man should not choose a church in order to please his parents in order to guarantee inheritances. Locke feels a church is “ a free and voluntary society” . Much like Kant, the ideas of Locke focus on free thought and independence from unjust authority. Both men also felt that within society it is necessary to have established rules and laws that govern a society. Lock felt that “the right ...