Reflect on the differences and similarities between Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Immanuel Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?”.

Using the example of the history of the prisoners in the cave, Plato tried to convey to society what difficulties scientists and philosophers face when trying to enlighten people. It is convenient for most people to exist in ignorance and meet with aggression those who seek to give them new knowledge. In Athens, Socrates was sentenced to death by the court for not honoring the gods worshipped by the inhabitants of Athens.

As a disciple of Socrates, in the “State,” Plato criticized Athenian democracy and strongly promoted the idea of the rule of philosophers. In the allegory of the cave, Plato draws attention to the fact that the human mass is excessively stubborn and stupid to manage itself. In this way, the allegory of the cave brings us closer to other very important questions about the nature of the reality surrounding us, the emergence of knowledge, and the problems of cognition.

In his speech, Kant states the main thesis that the lack of enlightenment is the inability of people to think not because of a lack of intelligence but because of a lack of fear. This thesis differs from what Plato said, that people themselves chose this path.

In the philosopher’s understanding, enlightenment is the ability of a person to come out of his immaturity, which arises as a result of a lack of courage to use reason, intelligence, and wisdom independently. Kant states that he considers the use of reason dangerous for most men and women.

The philosopher notes that the lack of necessary maturity is caused by institutions such as the church and the monarchy. Due to the lack of cultivation of intelligence, it will be difficult for people to get out of immaturity, provided that the controlling institutions disappear.

Kant relies on enlighteners who inspire people with the need to develop their thinking, which in the future will put an end to any despotic rule. The main purpose of the works of Kant and Plato is similar in that enlightenment work is difficult at all times and faces various obstacles from the people themselves to state institutions.