Final Blog Post: Immanuel Kant by Connor Coughran 06

     

     Immanuel Kant was born in the year 1724 in Prussia (modern day Russia). His family was a devout Lutheran family, and he was “reared to respect inner tranquility, industry, truthfulness, godliness, and order” as the most important human qualities. He lived a simple life, never leaving the town he was born in. His professional work began after earning a master’s degree at his local university; after receiving his degree, he was appointed a private lecturer at the university. Eventually, he was appointed the professor of logic and metaphysics. Kant is very well known for his advances in two areas of thought – metaphysics and morality/ethics.

Kant worked to bridge contemporary and traditional metaphysics by offering a complete reinterpretation of the subject. He recognized that the goal of the study of metaphysics was to establish the conclusive truths of God, human freedom, and immortality. However, he observed that much of the study in this area yielded differing observations and explanations that seemed equally valid. He called these differing observations and explanations antinomies. Here is a video explaining antinomies:

 Even though Kant understood the self-contradictory nature of the universe, he placed a lot of value and trust into Isaac Newton’s mathematical sciences. Newton’s findings proved to Kant that there were distinct, unshakable truths of the universe. This led Kant to attempt to reconcile his belief in conclusive laws of the universe with the contradictory nature of metaphysical theory. He accomplished this by concluding that people explain the universe through their experience of it, but these experiences can be misleading and do not directly point to the truth. He reasoned that there is a true nature of the universe, but it is completely independent from sense and experience. A completely pure truth is a truth that does not depends on the senses. Kant’s explanation leads to the realization that people are not immediately in tune with true reality. Instead, they are in tune only with their experience of that true reality.

Aside from metaphysics, Kant spent lots of time philosophizing about morality and ethics. Kant lived in the period known as the Enlightenment, and he claimed that the defining feature of his age was the increase in secularism (and the decrease in Christianity/organized religion) Although Kant left conventional religion, he understood its importance for maintaining social structure. He became concerned with the aftermath of a decrease in organized religion – would people continue to behave properly without religion? This question led Kant to ponder how to use reason to replace religion as a way to guide morality. He eventually came up with the idea of categorical imperative, which can be summarized as “act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become universal law.” In other words, consider whether or not your action should become a universal law. If not, then do not do it. Kant considered this to be a valid, logical replacement for the Christian commandment of universal love. This way, reason could be used to effectively replace religion with regards to ethics and morality.

As an extension of his principles of morality, Kant also believed that the central duty of government is to ensure liberty of the people. However, he made an important distinction; liberty does not mean the freedom to do whatever one desires. Instead, Kant believed that total liberty and freedom come from acting as your best moral self. When we act according to our base desires and passions (as opposed to reason), we are acting as slaves and not in a position of liberty. Kant claimed that “a free will and a will under moral laws are one and the same.” Here is a video that explains Kant's morality theory in detail.

Kant has several famous quotes that I will present and explain. He stated that “Experience without liberty is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.” This represents his strong belief in combining both reason and experience to know the absolute truth and reality. His belief in this coercion between experience and knowledge was also expressed when he stated that “it is beyond a doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience.” Concerning his moral philosophy and his idea of categorical imperative, Kant stated “live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law.” He also claimed that we should “always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end.” Put simply, do not use people; treat them as human beings and not as objects.

Immanuel Kant is one of the most prolific philosophers of the modern era. He established a bridge between modern and traditional metaphysical thought, and he established a new moral rule independent of religion. Kant asked himself three main questions: (1) what can I know, (2) what ought I do, and (3) for what may I hope. He answered these the best he could and produced groundbreaking new theories in the process.

Sources:

I.               Cook, Patricia. 2020. “Immanuel Kant.” Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.

II.             PHILOSOPHY: Immanuel Kant by The School of Life (YouTube)

III.           Brainyquote.com

Total Runs

Before Break: I don’t remember the exact number, but I had an A (30+)

After Break: 11

P.S. Thank you professor for your time this semester, and thank you for helping us adapt during quarantine!