Immanuel Kant

Born: 1724 | Died: 1804

Philosopher

Immanuel Kant was born as one of nine siblings. He grew up and spent most of his life in Königsberg in East Prussia. Today Immanuel Kant is known as one of the greatest philosophers of Germany and is considered one of the most influential thinkers of modern times.

At the age of 16 Kant enrolled at the University of Königsberg as a theological student where he was introduced to the works of Sir Isaac Newton and decided to pursue an academic career. The death of his father in 1745 forced Kant to interrupt his studies and earn a living as a family tutor until he was able to complete his degree in 1755. Thereafter, he taught at the university for 15 years, lecturing first on science and mathematics, but gradually covering almost all branches of philosophy.

Among Kant’s most famous works are: “Critique of Pure Reason” and “The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God.”

Much of his work is based on science but also transcends it. In his work “Critique of Pure Reason,” he proposes that the three great problems of metaphysics—God, freedom, and immortality— cannot be proven by logic, science or by speculative thought. At the same time, he argues for a necessity of a belief in their existence in his moral philosophy.

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