Kant, Immanuel

(1724–1804)

   Philosopher.

   Kant was born in Königsberg, Germany; he was educated at Königsberg University and he spent most of his career as Professor of Logic there. Despite this circumscribed existence, his in- fluence on the philosophy of religion cannot be overstated. Among his books were Der Kritik der Reinen Vernunft, Der Kritik der Praktischen Vernunft, Prolegomena zu Einer Jeden Kunftigen Metaphysik and Religion Innerhalb der Grenzen der Blossen Vernunft. Influenced by the thought of David hume, Kant argued that given the structure of human reason, metaphysical knowledge is an impossibility. The traditional proofs for the existence of God must be abandoned, but, none the less, the moral law demands the existence of the (unknowable) God. His ethical thought was equally important. He emphasised the role of duty; an action is moral only if it is performed out of a sense of duty and is in accordance with the Categorical Imperative. The Categorical Imperative can be determined through practical reason. Kant did not invent a new philosophical system, but, by defining the limits of human thought, he closed the door on traditional theological speculation. Among the very many later thinkers who were influenced by him must be included Schleiermacher, Hegel, Schelling, Fichte and Green.

   C.D. Broad, Kant: An Introduction (1978);

   B.M.G. Reardon, Kant as Philosophical Theologian (1988);

   R. Scruton, Kant (1982).