Maturity
The ability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance — the goal of enlightenment.
Immature, for Kant, is whoever lacks not understanding but the “resolution and courage” to use it independently — out of laziness and cowardice it is comfortable to leave thinking to books, doctors or pastors. Against this Kant sets the motto of enlightenment: “Have courage to use your own understanding!”
Maturity thus became a guiding concept of modern education: in the twentieth century Theodor W. Adorno took it up and tied “education for maturity” to democracy — only self-determined citizens capable of critical thought can resist totalitarian relapse.
Where it appears
- Enlightenment — Out of the go-cart
Source: Wikipedia: Maturity