启蒙运动(The Enlightenment)通常是指在17世纪至18世纪法国大革命之间的一个新思维不断涌现的时代,与理性主义等一起构成一个较长的文化运动时期。启蒙运动的核心是推崇理性,而不是将权威当作判断的标准,同时强调科学和知识的重要性。启蒙运动对人类文明产生了深远的影响,也产生了一大批伟大的思想家,在群星璀璨之中的一颗明星就是德国的哲学家康德(Immanuel Kant),本节所要讲的不是康德本人建立的哲学“大厦”,而是他对启蒙运动的反思和认识。
What is Enlightenment (by Immanuel Kant)
Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man's inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere aude (Dare to know! )"Have courage to use your own reason! "– that is the motto of enlightenment.
Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why so great a portion of mankind, after nature has long since discharged them from external direction, nevertheless remains under lifelong tutelage, and why it is so easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so easy not to be of age. If I have a book which understands for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a physician who decides my diet, and so forth, I need not trouble myself. I need not think, if I can only pay – others will easily undertake the irksome work for me.
▍生词好句
self-incurred: adj. 自身引起的
tutelage: n. 监护;指导(本节指“人类的不成熟状态”)
motto: n. 座右铭;箴言
cowardice: n. 怯懦;胆小
discharge: vt. 放出;免除
pastor: n. 牧师
conscience: n. 道德心;良知
irksome: adj. 令人厌烦的;讨厌的