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Immanuel Kant (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers.
- Overview
- Background and early years
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher and one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment. His comprehensive and systematic work in epistemology (the theory of knowledge), ethics, and aesthetics greatly influenced all subsequent philosophy, especially the various schools of Kantianism and idealism.
What was Immanuel Kant’s childhood like?
Immanuel Kant’s father, a saddler, was, according to Kant, descended from a Scottish immigrant, and his mother was remarkable for her character and natural intelligence. Both parents were devoted Pietists, and the influence of their pastor made it possible for Kant—the fourth of nine children but the eldest surviving child—to obtain an education.
What did Immanuel Kant do for a living?
Immanuel Kant worked as a family tutor for nine years before he finished university. He worked for 15 years as a Privatdozent, or lecturer, at the University of Königsberg until he was appointed to the chair of logic and metaphysics, a position in which he remained active until a few years before his death.
What did Kant write?
Kant lived in the remote province where he was born for his entire life. His father, a saddler, was, according to Kant, a descendant of a Scottish immigrant, although scholars have found no basis for this claim; his mother was remarkable for her character and natural intelligence. Both parents were devoted followers of the Pietist branch of the Lutheran church, which taught that religion belongs to the inner life expressed in simplicity and obedience to moral law. The influence of their pastor made it possible for Kant—the fourth of nine children but the eldest surviving child—to obtain an education.
At the age of eight Kant entered the Pietist school that his pastor directed. This was a Latin school, and it was presumably during the eight and a half years he was there that Kant acquired his lifelong love for the Latin classics, especially for the naturalistic poet Lucretius. In 1740 he enrolled in the University of Königsberg as a theological student. But, although he attended courses in theology and even preached on a few occasions, he was principally attracted to mathematics and physics. Aided by a young professor who had studied Christian Wolff, a systematizer of rationalist philosophy, and who was also an enthusiast for the science of Sir Isaac Newton, Kant began reading the work of the English physicist and, in 1744, started his first book, Gedanken von der wahren Schätzung der lebendigen Kräfte (1746; Thoughts on the True Estimation of Living Forces), dealing with a problem concerning kinetic forces. Though by that time he had decided to pursue an academic career, the death of his father in 1746 and his failure to obtain the post of under-tutor in one of the schools attached to the university compelled him to withdraw and seek a means of supporting himself.
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Philosophy 101
May 20, 2010 · 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.
Aug 9, 2023 · 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.'
An overview of Kant's life and philosophy, covering his contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political theory, and more. Learn about his doctrine of transcendental idealism, his categorical imperative, his Copernican shift, and his influence on modern thought.
Feb 23, 2004 · Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a principle of practical rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must follow despite any natural desires we may have to the contrary.
Learn about the main branches of Kant's philosophy: metaphysics and ethics. Explore how he responded to Hume's skepticism, how he reconciled freedom and causality, and how he conceived of moral law and duty.
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