Kant’s Critical Philosophy and the Enlightenment

Immanuel Kant: 18th-Century Philosophy

Kant lived in the mid-eighteenth century, a century that began with the War of Succession to the Spanish crown, representing the final collapse of Spanish power and the ideas of the Ancien Régime. England’s thriving, carrying the Enlightenment ideas, led all experts to address the eighteenth century from a rational perspective. England in the eighteenth century followed this, defined by the rise of the bourgeoisie, which would cause, in a time of remarkable economic splendor, a decay process of the revolution’s most famous illustration. The movement is characterized by its anticlericalism, and France strongly embraced science and technology, with figures like Newton and the French Encyclopedists. Kant culminated with the question, “What lights are what maketh the man of the minority?”

Philosophical Context

Philosophically, Kant belongs to a century marked by rivalry between two currents of thought: rationalism and empiricism, and by two sweeping assertions about the possibility of attaining knowledge. Knowledge is achieved either through innate ideas, or it begins with impressions. Kant’s work will attempt a reconciliation between these two distinct competing visions. The dead end to which the problem of knowledge has come will be resolved by trying, one of the greatest thinkers of our culture. This always relies on the open furrow by other authors, such as Rousseau and Hume.

Kantian Criticism

Kantian criticism will try to overcome the empiricism-rationalism debate. As stated in the late eighteenth century, the subject of philosophy strongly focuses on knowledge. Kant calls attention to a crucial fact: the contrast produced by the progress of science and mathematical physics versus metaphysics’ incessant changes, which make it a sorry figure in front of that. The origin of this disease is in an error of the metaphysical in the use of reason. Hence, a critique of reason and knowledge to which this can aspire has been set. A review is given of the power of knowledge in other sciences.

The Copernican Revolution in Philosophy

Kant also speaks of the Copernican Revolution. The name comes from the fact that, to expose critical hypothesis, he takes as its point of comparison the change made by Copernicus in the design of the new solar system. Kant asked what is known to him, how he knew, and how it is possible to get knowledge. Transcendental philosophy means a priori forms and structures.

Kantian criticism will try to overcome the empiricism-rationalism debate. As stated in the late eighteenth century, the subject of philosophy strongly focuses on knowledge. Kant calls attention to a crucial fact: the contrast produced by the progress of science and mathematical physics versus metaphysics’ incessant changes, which make it a sorry figure in front of that. The origin of this disease is in an error of the metaphysical in the use of reason. Hence, a critique of reason and knowledge to which this can aspire has been set. A review is given of the power of knowledge in other sciences. Kant also speaks of the Copernican Revolution. The name comes from the fact that, to expose critical hypothesis, he takes as its point of comparison the change made by Copernicus in the design of the new solar system. Kant asked what is known to him, how he knew, and how it is possible to get knowledge. Transcendental philosophy means a priori forms and structures.