Immanuel

Immanuel Kant (22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics have made him one of the most influential figures in modern Western philosophy. His best-known work, the Critique of Pure Reason (Critique of Pure Reason), aims to unite reason with experience to move beyond what he believes to be failures of traditional philosophy and science.

Life

Immanuel Kant was born in 1724 in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). Despite his family's modest means, Kant's parents nurtured his education. He attended the Collegium Fredericianum and later the University of Königsberg, where he was introduced to the works of the philosopher Leibniz and the scientist Newton, which would influence his philosophical approach to epistemology and metaphysics.

Work

Kant's work is often divided into two main phases: the pre-critical period, before the publication of the Critique of Pure Reason in 1781, and the critical period that followed. In the critical period, Kant developed his theory of transcendental idealism, arguing that space and time are forms of our sensibility and that the phenomena we can know are constructed by our modes of perception and understanding. With this, Kant sought to resolve the disputes between empiricism and rationalism.

Critique of Pure Reason

In the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant proposes that while we can never have knowledge of the "things-in-themselves" (the noumena), we can have knowledge of the phenomena because our sensory experience is structured by our mind. Thus, Kant argues for a new method of metaphysics, combining rationalist and empiricist views.

Ethics

Kant's ethical theory is deontological, meaning it focuses on the intention behind actions rather than the consequences. His most famous ethical work, the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, introduces the concept of the categorical imperative, a principle that requires us to act in a way that we would want our actions to become a universal law.

Aesthetics

In the Critique of Judgment, Kant discusses aesthetics and the philosophy of beauty. He suggests that beauty is a matter of subjective feeling but also that it has a universal aspect because it involves a disinterested pleasure, meaning we appreciate beauty without desiring to possess the object of beauty.

Legacy

Kant's influence extends beyond philosophy into political theory, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. His ideas about freedom, democracy, and peace have contributed to contemporary political thought. His work has also influenced various disciplines, including psychology, law, and history.

See Also

• Enlightenment
• Metaphysics
• Epistemology
• Ethics
• Aesthetics