he two twigs could be attached to the same branch. Those with reason and those without reason can very well coexist on the tree of evolution.Nevertheless, Kant’s model of the progression of reason is not altogether without its merits. It is certainly a good representation of how some people, and for Kant they were only some men, understood the societal implications of the realm of science. The huddling masses, and all the women, were seen as being cowardly and lazy. They were deemed fearful of taking the first step and, like babies, falling before they got anywhere. As he said, “[They] need not think, so long as [they] can pay; others will soon enough take the tiresome job over for [them]” (p. 54.) However, he was sure that if people just continued taking such steps they would eventually learn to walk on their own. By this he did not intend for a revolution of reason because it would not be “a true reform” (p. 55) as other prejudices would surely be formed. What he viewed as the inevitable progression was one of reformation whereby laws, and so forth, were obeyed on a civil level while the intellect took the reigns of freedom. After all, societal regulations need to be in effect so that there may be enough peace to view our opinions. Those opinions can eventually have the power to change the rules by which we live our daily lives. Kant believed that one day in the future, humankind will have reached the “Enlightened Time.” Not only is this view arrogant in assuming that the only way forward is upward, but it seems like if such an end were ever attained it would in effect cancel ourselves out. This “Enlightened Time” seems very reminiscent of the notion of the end of time (Judgment Day, Apocalypse, and so forth.) For what remains when all of humanity has reached this top-of-the-ladder? When all thought is Reason what is left to accomplish? It appears that such an end w...
