The Immanuel Kant Biography
Immanuel Kant was born in the town of Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He was born on April 22, 1724 into an average and proper family. His father, Johann Georg Kant, was a harness maker and his mother, Anna Regina Reuter, was a washerwoman. Both of his parents were Pietist German Lutherans and did their utmost to raise him according to the Protestant Ethics.
Kant began his education in the Pietist school at Königsbergin at the age of seven and at the age of thirteen he was admitted to the Königsberg University where he completed his undergraduate education. After graduating from the university in 1740, Kant stayed at the university for another ten years as a tutor and lecturer in the areas of mathematics and natural sciences.
Kant had a very inquisitive mind and was well known for his deep and extensive knowledge in virtually all areas of science. One of his main interests was philosophy, which he was able to pursue in his free time. During this period, he began to assimilate the ideas of German philosophers of the period as well as reading works of foreign authors.
Kant’s inquiry into philosophy soon resulted in the publication of his first book, The Critique of Pure Reason, in 1781. This work outlined his view of the relationship between human knowledge and the limits of reason to understand the world. This work was both praised and criticized by fellow philosophers and this only inspired Kant to write more works. Kant’s other famous works include Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (1783), Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785), and Critique of Practical Reason (1788).
Kant’s work was revolutionary and had a huge influence on the entire philosophical language. He created several new terms and phrases that are now commonly used in the academic community. He is widely credited with transforming the discipline of philosophy, focusing on the ideas of basic logic and rational inquiry. He has also been credited with major contributions to faith and morality as well as ethics.
Kant was a professor of philosophy at Königsberg University until 1804, when he retired due to poor health. In his later years, Kant was renowned for his strong opinions and unapologetic, no-nonsense attitude. He continued to produce works until his death in 1804, aged 79.
Kant’s work has been studied, revised and debated for centuries after his death and continues to have a major impact on philosophical thought today. His works and theories remain immensely popular and are taught in universities all over the world. Kant was a highly influential figure in European philosophy and his legacy will continue to shape our understanding of the world around us.
