Kant’s Philosophy and the Age of Enlightenment
Immanuel Kant: Philosopher of the Enlightenment
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher who lived in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). Although he rarely left his hometown, his thinking was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment, the dominant intellectual movement of the 18th century.
Early Life and Education
Born into a modest family, Kant received a Pietistic religious education. In 1740, he enrolled at the University of Königsberg, where he studied the works of philosophers and scientists like Christian Wolff and Isaac Newton. He later became a professor at the same university.
Philosophical Development
After encountering the works of David Hume and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Kant moved away from strict rationalism. This shift was accelerated by his focus on the foundations of metaphysics. Kant was a strong supporter of the French Revolution, viewing it as the dawn of an era of freedom and justice, aligning with the aspirations of the rising bourgeoisie.
Kant’s Central Questions
Kant’s philosophy revolves around three fundamental questions:
- What can I know?
- What should I do?
- What may I hope?
These questions, in turn, reflect a more general inquiry: What is man?
The Age of Enlightenment
The 18th century, known as the Age of Enlightenment, was a period of significant intellectual and social change. It marked the end of the Ancien Régime and the rise of revolutionary movements across Europe and America. These revolutions, beginning in England in the 17th century, culminated in more radical changes with the American (1776) and French (1789) Revolutions, signaling the end of absolute monarchies.
Scientific progress, particularly the work of Isaac Newton (admired by both Hume and Kant), fostered a widespread belief in a new era of reason and progress.
Reason and Progress
The Enlightenment championed Reason as the means to overcome ignorance and fanaticism. The Encyclopédie, compiled by Diderot and D’Alembert, aimed to encompass all human knowledge. Kant considered his time an age of enlightenment, striving towards a truly enlightened age, characterized by the ideals of Freedom, Equality, and Fraternity.
Major Works
Kant’s most influential works include his three critiques:
- Critique of Pure Reason: Examines the nature, scope, and limits of human reason.
- Critique of Practical Reason: Explores ethics and human behavior.
- Critique of Judgment: Bridges the dualism of the first two critiques and emphasizes the importance of human feeling.
Kant’s Legacy
Kant’s influence on subsequent philosophy is immeasurable. His work served as a foundation for 19th-century philosophy, and his theories on the structures of knowledge were validated by 20th-century biology. Despite his critiques, metaphysics continues to be a relevant field of study. The postulates of his practical reason influenced Romanticism and Hegelian idealism. His concept of man as an end in himself, rather than a means of production, profoundly impacted Marx and his political theories.
Final Reflection
Kant’s tomb is located outside the Königsberg Cathedral (now Kaliningrad Cathedral). A plaque near his grave bears the inscription: “The starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.“