ODGOVOR NA PITANJE: KAKO JE MOGUĆA PROSVEĆENOST?
AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: HOW ENLIGHTENMENT IS POSSIBLE?

Summary/Abstract: The author analyzes the key terms of Kant's definition of enlightenment: immaturity, guilt, humanity, laziness, cowardice, bravery, and others. The first part of the paper presents the criticisms that challenge every reasonable character of Kant's conception of enlightenment. After that, these critiques are confronted with the defenses of Kant's definition of enlightenment that points out, on the one hand, its self-reflectivity and, on the other, its everlasting actuality. Special attention is paid to the historical and textual reconstruction of the understanding of public as a condition of the possibilities for the effective engagement of the mind and the rational organization of society. It is concluded that the question of enlightenment remains open, to the extent that the danger of arbitrary use under a completely vague semantic rules threatening the very notion of enlightenment. Continuous reinterpretations of Kant's attempt to define it, however, are also testimonies of an unavoidable instance, with respect to which – by recognition of its relevance, its rearranging or rejection – different conceptions of enlightenment and its landmarks were tempted, articulated and established.

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