As a college student, as with any walk of life, my days are fraught with change and countless decisions regarding my future. At times this can be quite despairing. As a Christian my faith tells me that mankind was conceived in God's own image, and that part of Him resides within each individual soul. This also means then that God endowed humanity with all of the necessary faculties which, when properly nurtured, allow us to make lucid choices concerning our own well being. As rational beings we are thus able to make just and proper decisions without dependence upon God or anyone else. This does not mean that we will always make the best possible decision for any given circumstance, yet we have been allotted the freedom to choose, and this is not a gift to be taken lightly. .
"Sapere Aude!" Dare to Know! Immanuel Kant proudly proclaims in his essay "An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?" As he points out, every man, woman, and child possesses the innate ability to reason and derive knowledge from the world around them. However, in this bold statement, to "dare" implies something more than just the collection of facts. It entails a personal commitment, something that one must consciously seek out and choose to pursue. To simply learn something is somewhat of a passive process, but to apply this knowledge requires an active role utilizing sound judgment, determination, and courage. According to Kant, we are born immature, a state in which we are dependent upon guidance from others in order to employ our natural faculties. Enlightenment is the converse state of being achieved only when one breaks away from the chains tethering their intellect to that of his fellow man. .
To be truly enlightened you must take command of your own life and make decisions, but only after careful analysis of the present circumstances. Difficulty arises in the fact that by deciding for yourself you often have to go against what others desire and prescribe.