If humans had taglines, what would yours be?
(From Google)
Sapere aude is a Latin phrase that translates to “Dare to know” or “Dare to be wise”. It urges individuals to have the courage to think independently, use their own reason, and step outside the comfort of established authority or dogma.
The Origins
- Horace: The phrase was coined by the Roman poet Horace in his Epistles (circa 20 BC) as an inspiring call-to-action to embrace independent learning.
- Immanuel Kant: The motto became the definitive slogan of the Age of Enlightenment. The philosopher Immanuel Kant adopted the phrase in his 1784 essay Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment?He argued that enlightenment is man’s emergence from “self-imposed immaturity,” which is caused by a lack of courage to think for oneself rather than a lack of intellect.
Modern Application
Today, the concept remains a fundamental framework for critical thinking. It serves as a reminder to continuously question the status quo, embrace the discomfort of being a beginner, and avoid outsourcing your thinking to others.
Leave a comment