Immanuel Kant

1724 - 1804 Renaissance German

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Biographical Core

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher whose work in epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics profoundly shaped modern philosophy. Born in Königsberg, Prussia, he is best known for his 'Critique of Pure Reason' (1781), which distinguishes between phenomena (things as they appear) and noumena (things-in-themselves), arguing that space and time are a priori intuitions of the mind. His moral philosophy centers on the categorical imperative, a universal principle of duty in 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals' (1785), emphasizing acting only according to maxims that can become universal laws. Kant also contributed to aesthetics, teleology, and political philosophy, advocating perpetual peace through republican constitutions and international federations.

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