Enlightenment's Exit

The author regards "maturity", one of the most important concepts in Kant's essay "What Is Enlightenment?", as the entrence and exit for enlightenment through analysing its general meanings. At the entrance, the author comprehends the connotation of man's "maturity" by analysing the fundamental metaphor of Enlightenment Movement, "light of renson", and attempts to depict the process of man's wants for "maturity" of seeing everything falling into another "immaturity". At the exit, on the debate background of this German-tyed question, the author explicitly analyses meanings of Kant's "maturity" and premises and best way to achieve such "maturity", i.e. " outspoken thinking"(liberty of speech). On this base, the author attempts to show that Kant starts with "speaking" and provides us a new approach to enlightment. Thanks to this approach, the treasure of enlighenment's self-denial and self-criticism can be renewed and the lost soul of enlightenment can be redeemed and remain presently meaningful.