Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
- is the central figure in modern philosophy.
- He synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of
nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy, and continues to exercise a significant
influence today in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy,
aesthetics, and other fields.
- The fundamental idea of Kant’s “critical philosophy” – especially in his three
Critiques: the Critique of Pure Reason (1781, 1787), the Critique of Practical
Reason (1788), and the Critique of the Power of Judgment (1790) – is human
autonomy.
- He argues that the human understanding is the source of the general laws of nature
that structure all our experience; and that human reason gives itself the moral law,
which is our basis for belief in God, freedom, and immortality.
- Therefore, scientific knowledge, morality, and religious belief are mutually
consistent and secure because they all rest on the same foundation of human
autonomy, which is also the final end of nature according to the teleological
worldview of reflecting judgment that Kant introduces to unify the theoretical and
practical parts of his philosophical system.
Biography
- Immanuel Kant was born in April 22, 1724 in what was then Prussia
- He lived in the same relatively remote region for his entire life,
- His family was very religious, following a branch of Lutheranism
- is likely that his religious upbringing influenced some of Kant's philosophy,
especially in ethics
- Kant was an ascetic individual who kept to a strict daily schedule.
- Studied at University of Konigsberg as a theology student, but was soon
attracted to mathematics and physics; eventually become professor of logic and
metaphysics
- Kant's most famous work, the Critique of Pure Reason, was published in 1781,
when he was 57 years old.
- He wrote two other Critiques: the Critique of Practical Reason and the Critique of
the Power of Judgment.
- Prussian government banned him from speaking or writing on religious subjects
because they found his work too controversial.
- In the last years of his life, Kant began to lose his memory. His health declined
and he eventually had to stop writing. He died in 1804 at the age of 79
- Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher during the Enlightenment era of the late 18th
century. His best-known work is the 'Critique of Pure Reason.
Immanuel Kant is known for his extraordinary contributions to philosophy. Unlike most
philosophers, he did not limit himself to one branch of philosophy: his contributions
were widespread and highly impactful in a number of disciplines.
Kant developed what is called the categorical imperative. This is a theory that all
actions are either right or wrong regardless of consequences. Anyone wishing to be
moral, Kant argued, has an absolute duty to perform these right actions under any and
all circumstances
Immanuel Kant remains important today because of his contributions to philosophy. He
radically and irrevocably changed how philosophers think about concepts in ethics,
aesthetics, metaphysics, and more. Few philosophers have ever had such a widespread
impact.
Lutheranism, branch of Christianity that traces its interpretation
of the Christian religion to the teachings of Martin Luther
References:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/
https://study.com/learn/lesson/immanuel-kant-biography-philosophy.html#:~:text=4.1K%20views-
The%20Life%20of%20Immanuel%20Kant,Kant%27s%20philosophy%2C%20especially%20in
%20ethics.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lutheranism
https://www.biography.com/scholars-educators/immanuel-kant#:~:text=Immanuel%20Kant%20was
%20a%20German,%27.
https://thegreatthinkers.org/kant/biography/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-philosophy/Kant
https://ethics.org.au/big-thinker-immanuel-kant/#:~:text=One%20of%20Kant%27s%20greatest
%20contributions,the%20outcome%20of%20the%20action
(first)
Birth City: Konigsburg (now Kaliningrad)
Birth Country: Prussia (now Russia)
(before sa pietist school)
His father was a saddler
mother was remarkable for her character and natural intelligence
Both parents were devoted followers of the Pietist branch of the Lutheran church
Lutheranism, branch of Christianity that traces its interpretation of the Christian religion
to the teachings of Martin Luther
which taught that religion belongs to the inner life expressed in simplicity and obedience
to moral law
(pietist school)
he developed a strong interest in philosophy and began studying the works of
philosophers such as Descartes and Leibniz
(university of konigsberg)
From 1755 to 1770 he was Privatdozent (unsalaried professor) at the University of
Königsberg. In 1770 he was appointed professor of philosophy, a position which he held
until 1797.
(after his works na)
Prussian government banned him from speaking or writing on religious subjects because
they found his work too controversial.
Kant's deontological ethics has been hugely influential but also controversial, being
criticized by many philosophers as being based on an unrealistic conception of human
rationality as well as being overly inflexible.
In the last years of his life, Kant began to lose his memory. His health declined and he
eventually had to stop writing. He died in 1804 at the age of 79
