Ah, isn't it just like Dr. Mashburn to assign a piece that not only challenges our thinking but challenges us to challenge our thinking. I really enjoyed this essay. I think I found it very relatable because it is so accurate to today's time, even if it was written during the Age of Enlightenment. I suppose this is a great representation of the idea that human nature does not change. The phrase which is stated in the first paragraph of the essay caught my eye. "Sapere aude! (Dare to know). I related this is not only the period of time written about here, or the current time period, but even some milestone moments in history. "Dare to know" is an idea that is presented quite a few times in college and even in life. One does not only want to know, but to understand. During this age in life, it can sometimes be hard to actually critically think about something. Looking at shallow facts and forming a mindless opinion has become a habit. Kant challenges this age of people to stop relying on the information of others to sway one's opinion, but form one's own opinion through critical thinking. He describes the people as being bound to intellectual slavery and can only be free of this bondage once they break free from this guardianship. He does slightly blame the government itself for using controlling authority and not allowing the citizens proper education, but he also blames the people for allowing this to happen because of their willingness to submit to a higher knowledge in which they could seek out themselves.
This is an encouraging passage for the beginning on the school year as motivation to challenge one's own thinking and their ability to not always submit to the knowledge of others. Formulate ideas and critical observations and discover a new sense of intelligence.
PS: I commented on Jacob and Hailey's blog, but the site is glitching so you can't see it, so just imagine that it's there.
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Zane Duke