Works by Kant

629 Pages·1952·142.703 MB·English

by  Immanuel Kant

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The
Critique of Pure Reason
The
Critique of Practical Reason
AND OTHER ETHICAL TREATISES
The
Critique ofJudgement
BY IMMANUEL KANT
William Benton, Publisher
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, INC.
CHICAGO LONDON TORONTO GENEVA SYDNEY TOKYO MANILA
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The Critique of Practical Reason, Fundamental Principles of the Meta-
physic of Morals, and Preface and Introduction to the Metaphysical
Elements of Ethics, With a Note on Conscience, are reprinted from
Kant's Critique of Practical Reason and Other Works on the Theory of
Ethics, published by Longmans, Green & Co., New York and London,
by permission of the Executors of the translator, Thomas Kingsmill
Abbott.
General Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals and The Science of
Right, translated by W. Hastie, are reprinted by arrangement with T. &
T. Clark, Edinburgh.
The Critique of Judgement, translated by James Creed Meredith, is re-
printedbyarrangementwithOxfordUniversityPress.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
The Great Books
ispublished with the editorial advice of thefaculties
of The University of Chicago
No part ofthis work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,recording,orbyany
informationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthe
publisher.
©
1952
by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
Copyright under International Copyright Union
All Rights Reserved under Pan American and Universal Copyright
Conventions by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 55-10348
International Standard Book Number: 0-85229-163-9
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Immanuel Kant, 724-1804
i
Kant was born at Königsberg in East Prussia lished several scientific works, dealing with the
on April 22, 1724. His father, a saddler in the different races of men, the nature of winds, the
city, was descended from a Scottish immigrant; causes of earthquakes, and the general theory
his mother was German. Both parents were de- of the heavens. But he soon branched into
voted followers of the Pietist branch of the Lu- other subjects, including logic, metaphysics,
theran Church, and it was largely through the and moral philosophy. He even lectured on
influence of theirpastor that Kant, who was the fireworks and fortifications, and gave every
fourth of eleven children but the eldest surviv- summer for thirty years a popular course on
ing son, obtained an education. physical geography. Kant enjoyed great suc-
In his eighth year Kant entered the Col- cess as a lecturer; his style, which differed
legium Fredericianum, which his pastor direct- markedly from that of his books, was humor-
ed. Itwasa"Latin School," and duringtheeight ous and vivid, enlivened by many examples
and a half years that he was there, Kant ac- drawn from his wide reading in English and
quired a love for the Latin classics, especially French literature, and in books of travel and
for Lucretius. In 1740 he enrolled in the Uni- geography, as well as in science and philosophy.
versity of Königsberg as a theological student. During his fifteen years as a Privat-docent,
Though he attended courses in theology, and Kant's fame as writer and lecturer steadily
even preached on one or two occasions, he was increased. Though he failed twice to obtain a
principally attracted to mathematics and phys- professorship at Königsberg, he continued to
ics. Given access to the library of his professor refuse appointments elsewhere. The only aca-
in these subjects, he read Newton and Leibniz demic preferment he received during this
and in 1744 started his first book, dealing with lengthy probation was the post of under-librar-
the problem of kinetic forces. By that time he ian, which he was given in 1766. Finallyin 1770
had decided to pursue an academic career, but he obtained the chair of logic and metaphysics.
on failing to obtain the post of under-tutor in In later years he served six times as dean
one of the schools attached to the university, he of the philosophical facultyand twice as rector.
was compelled for financial reasons to with- Kant'sinaugural dissertationasprofessor,On
drawand seekaposition asafamilytutor. the Form and Principles of the Sensible and
During the nine years that Kant was a tutor Intelligible World, indicated the direction of
(1746-1755), he was employed by three differ- his philosophical interests. In submitting it to
ent families. In this position he was introduced a friend that same year, he wrote: "For about
to the influential society of the city, acquired a year I flatter myself that I have attained that
social grace, and made his farthest travels conception which I have no fear that I shall
from his native city, which took him to Arns- ever change, though I may expand it, by means
dorf, about sixty miles from Königsberg. In of which all kinds of metaphysical questions
1755, aided by a relative, he was able to can be tested according to sure and easy cri-
complete his degree at the university and teria, and by means of which it can be decided
assume the role of Privat-docent, or lecturer. with certainty how far their solution is possi-
The three dissertations he presented for this ble." But itwas not until 1781 that the Critique
post dealt respectively with fire, the first prin- of Pure Reason appeared, although he declared
ciples of metaphysical knowledge, and "the ad- that the actual writing took but four or five
vantages to natural philosophy of a metaphysic months. In the same letter he also noted his in-
connected with geometry." With the opening tention to investigate "pure moral philosophy"
of the winter term he began his lectures. At and to systematize his metaphysics of morals,
first he restricted himself to mathematics and which was first accomplished in 1785 with the
physics, and that year and the next he pub- publication of the Fundamental Principles of
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
VI
the Metaphysic of Mords. The Critique oj As early as 1789 Kant's health began to de-
Practical Reason was brought out in 1788 and cline seriously. He still had many literary proj-
the Critique of Judgement two years later. ects, but found it impossible to write more than
The "critical philosophy" was soon being a few hours a day. In 1792 with the appearance
taught in every important German-speaking of his work, On Religion Within the Limits of
university, and young men flocked to Königs- Reason Alone, he became involved in a dispute
berg as a shrine of philosophy. In some cases with the Prussian authorities on the right to ex-
the Prussian Government even undertook the press religious opinions, and at the request of
expense of their support. Kant came to be con- the government he remained silent for some
sulted as an oracle on all kinds of questions, in- years on the subject. In 1795 he published his
cluding such subjects as the lawfulness of vac- treatise on Perpetual Peace. In 1797, after a
cination. Such homage did not interrupt Kant's career of forty-two years, he delivered his last
regular habits. Scarcely five feet tall, with a de- lectureandretired fromthe university. The fol-
formed chest, and suffering from weak health, lowing year, byway of asserting his right to re-
he maintained throughout his life a severe regi- sume theological discussions, he wrote on the
men. It was arranged with such regularity that conflict of the faculties in the university. This
people set their clocks according to his daily proved to be Kant's last book; the large work,
walk along the street named for him the Phi- at which he labored until his death, on the con-
losopher's Walk. Until old age prevented him, nection between physics and metaphysics was
heissaid to havemissedthisregularappearance found tobeonlyarepetition of hisalreadypub-
only on the occasion when Rousseau's Emile so lishedworks. Afteragradual decline, whichwas
engrossed him that for several days he stayed painful to himself and his friends, he died
at home. February 12, 1804.
GENERAL CONTENTS
The Critique of Pure Reason, page
I
Translated by M. D. Meiklejohn
J.
Fundamental Principles of
the Metaphysic of Morals, page 253
Translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
The Critique of Practical Reason, page 291
Translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
Preface and Introduction to
the Metaphysical Elements of Ethics, page 365
With a Note on Conscience
Translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
General Introduction to
the Metaphysic of Morals, page 383
Translated by W. Hastie
The Science of Right, page 397
Translated by W. Hastie
The Critique of Judgement, page 461
Translated by James Creed Meredith
Vll