After digging deep into the Kant Enlightenment, I realized this was not just an assignment for Honors Literature, but an invitation into Honors Literature. Doctors Mashburn and Counselman couldn't have picked a better passage to start our year off, whether it was by purpose or by chance. Because through this, they implore us to dare to think in the same way that Immanuel Kant implores his readers to dare to think. Kant's Enlightenment isn't merely our duty this week. It's our duty every week from here on out. Most importantly though, it's our theme as well. Honors, if you don't think this is our theme, then I don't know what is.
Kant likens enlightenment to release, and accurately so. This year, I want to see myself as well as the rest of you be "released" from what's comfortable and familiar- authoritatively speaking up in class, discussing topics most are afraid of discussing, diligently pursuing our studies, and most of all, growing. I highly encourage each and every one of you reading this post to be proud of who you are and how hard you've worked to become a part of Honors and that you shouldn't stop just because you've gotten in but that you should work all the more hard. Never stop learning. Never stop investigating. Never stop questioning. And never allow cowardice or laziness, the two main causes of tutelage according to Kant, deter you from doing these three things. As a Honors student, I am one of the generation's upcoming leaders. As a Honors student, you are one of the generation's upcoming leaders. If we want an enlightened public, we must first rise up as enlightened leaders to start the movement. I leave you with one question: Do you feel the same way as I do?
I commented on blogs by Stephen Davis and Osten Belew.
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