THUS SPOKE MY OLD MAN !

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Important Message

Starting to read Immanuel Kant ?
But, where to start?
Read this first !

It has been said that a good introductory book to philosophy should be Kant's The Critique of Pure Reason. Surprisingly, at first, this seems laughable and almost absurd: Kant's texts, especially his later works, are notoriously difficult to read, His dense prose intimidate those who try and sometimes terrify even seasoned readers.

Yet, this suggestion had a point. Once you find a way into reading Kant, his texts can teach you how to think well and in an organised and structured way. All his books and particularly "The Critiques" are satisfyingly complex, systematic, critical, and are stimulating you to wrestle and disagree with them

So, where should you start? It helps to know a little about Kant's background, his interests, his way of thinking, and the concepts he uses. Once you crack the code to reading Kant, his works become the ultimate teaching aid in learning how to think deeply and critically. Kant challenges you, forcing you to engage, to disagree, and think in systematic and profound way. So, where do you begin? It helps to explore Kant's background, his motivations, his distinctive way of reasoning, and the key concepts that frame his thought. I shall be brief.

Immanuel Kant, the fourth of nine children, was not born into wealth and privilege like many of the great Enlightenment philosophers we still celebrate today. His father, a bridle maker, held a tradesman position far beneath that of a saddler in terms of both economic and social status. The Kant family adhered to Pietism, a 17th-century religious movement aimed at revitalizing Protestant life and reforming the church. Kant was not religious in his adulthood, a fact well known to his community, and as a result many have accused him of contributing to the decline of church attendance in Königsberg.

Notwithstanding his religious doubts he always valued the inner peace and positive outlook that the Pietist way of life had instilled in him, which he thought similar to the Stoic philosophy. Kant often credited his mother's 'natural' rational thinking and strong moral principles as early influences that shaped his worldview.

Kant's community recognized his intellectual capacity. Collectively they helped Kant attend a prestigious, though rigid school. Notwithstanding such rigid classical education Kant's intellectual curiosity endured.

He later enrolled at the university, supporting himself through tutoring and winning at billiards, a skill that helped him sustain himself throughout his younger years. So, there you are, a little bit of trivia. At 46, Kant was appointed a professor in Logic and Metaphysics University of Königsberg, which not only fulfilled his academic aspirations but also brought him financial stability.

Immanuel Kant spent his entire life in Königsberg, a bustling commercial centre of Prussia during his time. His circle of friends, colleagues and student was diverse. They came from various regions: Prussia, German states, Russia, the Baltic, Poland, and others.

Despite his dedication to his work at the University, Kant spent the second half of each day for socializing: meeting friends, playing billiards and cards, attending salons, and visiting the theatre. Such was his flamboyant social life. Well, maybe he was not such a dull boy, but open to enjoyment of comforts and indulgences.

Kant was at the forefront of both natural sciences and metaphysics. In 1755, he anonymously published "The General Natural History and Theory of the Heavens," in which he proposed a purely mechanical explanation for the origin of the universe.

At the same time King Friedrich Wilhelm II, had reintroduced stricter measures, leading to Kant's trouble with censors. There were rumours abound that Kant might be exiled or at least silenced, losing the right to publish or teach. Although this did not happen, Kant received a stern warning from the King himself, accusing him of abusing his position as an educator to turn young minds against the Church's teachings. Unintimidated, Kant promised not to publish any more writings on religion as long as the King lived. Well, maybe he was not such a dull boy, but rebellious as well.

The Three Critiques

Why are Kant's famous three "Critiques" known as such? What are they critical of, and why? They are a critical reflection on the limits of the application of reason, and at the same time, of Kant's own philosophical tradition. Kant was educated in the tradition of Rationalism, and in particular, the philosophy of Gottfried Leibniz and Christian Wolff. Rationalists believed that knowledge stems from reason. Although Kant had harboured doubts about this foundational belief long before his "Critiques" period, it was his reading of David Hume that fully awakened him from his "dogmatic slumber."

Kant used the term "dogmatism" to critically describe Rationalism and referred to Hume's Empiricism as "Scepticism." While Rationalists believed knowledge originates in reason, Empiricists contended that it stems solely from experience. A key distinction is between "reason" and "understanding." Reason is the ability to think logically - it is not about intelligence or education. Though reasoning skills can be developed, Kant maintained that reasoning is a universal human capacity, meaning everyone is capable of thinking rationally and that nobody can be excused from thinking rationally. It means being able to infer a conclusion from reasons and to avoid fallacies such as holding mutually contradictory beliefs. So, 'reason' is what we use to think well; it is independent of experience.

In contrast, "understanding" pertains to how we make sense of the world around us and the "understanding" is inherently tied to experience. This distinction is also expressed in the terms a priori ("before experience") and a posteriori ("after experience").

Kant's central argument is that reason alone cannot provide knowledge. He argues that knowledge requires input from the external world, and it is through the interaction of reason with our senses and the world that we come to know things… Knowledge, for Kant, is a posteriori-based on experience. Attempts to gain knowledge purely through reason lead only to "darkness and contradictions."

It is in the field of ethics, covered in the Critique of Practical Reason, that "reason" really comes into its own: Kant believes that we employ reason to be free in our thinking about moral principles; they are a priori. However, in ethics, as explored in the Critique of Practical Reason, reason plays a crucial role. Kant believes that reason is vital for our moral freedom, as it allows us to think independently about moral principles, which are a priori.

Why are there three Critiques, rather than just two? The distinction between the Critique of Pure Reason and the Critique of Practical Reason is clear. In the first Critique, Kant explores the conditions necessary for acquiring knowledge. However, when considering moral values, it becomes apparent that moral reasoning operates differently from the way we understand the world through knowledge. This is the focus of the second Critique.

But what, then, is the purpose of the third Critique, the Critique of Judgement? It serves to bridge the gap between the two earlier Critiques. When reading the first two works, it is easy to see how the domains of sensory experience and moral reasoning - nature and freedom - seem disconnected. Judgement, however, is the human capacity that unites them. A useful example of this is aesthetics. An aesthetic judgment, such as "This rose is beautiful," differs from a statement of knowledge like "This rose is red." Yet, an aesthetic judgment also differs from a moral statement. Aesthetic judgements require both attention to the natural world, through sensory experience, and the exercise of human freedom, through subjective imagination.

Why are these Critiques so significant, and why do they continue to hold such significance and importance? Why did many consider the Critique of Pure Reason "the most important book ever written in European philosophy"? Was Kant right in everything he posits in the three Critiques? Of course not; or maybe not, if you will. Was he right or wrong … that should neither be an expectation in our reading nor the right way by which to judge any philosophy.

For instance, many thinkers have justifiably criticized Kant's conclusion in the Critique of Practical Reason that morality is grounded in rules which each individual must freely choose and then universally obey, as encapsulated by the concept of the "categorical imperative" … no matter the situation.

Such highly formalised approach to ethics can be challenging or impossible to live by. Yet, Kant's perspective offers valuable insight into the nature of morality and moral reasoning, advancing philosophical discourse in a profound way. While we may find his ethical system difficult to follow in practice, we cannot disregard it in the broader study of moral philosophy, or, for that matter, in its application in our daily lives.

The same holds true for the Critique of Pure Reason, whose revelations fundamentally reshaped our understanding of metaphysics and epistemology. Finally, the Critique of Judgement makes groundbreaking contributions to the foundations of philosophical aesthetics, with insights that remain relevant today. Instead of expecting any philosophical work to provide final answers, it is more productive to see it as a contribution that opens new perspectives and expands the scope for further philosophical exploration. His work thus provides not merely a scope for an academic discourse, but also it opens new perspectives and the opportunity for exploration in practical everyday life.

Ready to start! Now that you have a basic understanding of Kant's background and projects, you are in a stronger position to begin reading his work, including even the challenging Critiques or, maybe you can start reading the famous but shorter: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

Take it on slowly. Philosophy should always be read slowly and carefully, so patience is essential. Like many great philosophers, Kant encourages us to engage critically with his ideas, so be prepared to think actively and deeply as you read.

Ultimately, you can form your own judgment about the relevance of his contributions. But make sure to do so in an informed, thoughtful manner. Put in the effort - that's how Kant approached philosophy, and it is how we should, too.

Moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant is explained in an essay titled Good Will, Goodness and Duty another page. Follow the link below:

Essay: Good Will, Goodness and Duty

Downloadable PDF file is available on this page.