Philosophers Immanuel Kant and Gotthold Lessing

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the contents of Immanuel Kant's "An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?" and Gotthold Lessing's "Ernst and Falk, Dialogues for Freemasons". The paper explores the similarities and differences between the two essays and points out that, although the two essays share a fundamental similarity, in that both authors believe in advocating for a better society, they differ in their views about the extent and method of this betterment.

From the Paper:

"Further, both the authors recognize the importance of a few enlightened members of society spreading their thoughts to others. In adding to their numbers, the Freemasons do not hold loud membership rallies, but consider new members through conversation - as Falk is doing with Ernst. In this way they are able to feel out if a potential has the right character to be a true Freemason, rather than merely a rote repeater of the accepted dogma. Kant's enlightened men publish their works correctly in their public life and gather to them other like-minded thinkers."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kant, Immanuel. An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment? 1784.
• Lessing, Gotthold. Ernst and Falk, Dialogues for Freemasons. 1778.

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