One of the greatest thinkers of the spiritual movement of the Enlightenment is the Imanuel Kanta man who influenced as few modern philosophy with his ideas, even though he never traveled away from his city. In his studies, he dealt with issues related to epistemology, ethics, metaphysics and aesthetics, remaining up to date for his positions. It is no coincidence that he is called the father of modern ethics, modern aesthetics and – to unite empiricism with rationality – of modern philosophy.
Born April 22, 1724, in Kenigsburg, East Prussia (today’s Caligrad Russia) And it was the fourth of the nine children of Johann Yorg Kant and Anna Regina Ryter. Lutheran Christians, Johann and Regina raised their children with the authorities of reverence and humiliation, according to the values taught by the Bible. Imanuel’s training program, which was focused on teaching Latin and religious, is characterized as particularly rigorous.
He was waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, followed a strict schedule and took his walk daily at exactly the same time.
In 1740, at the age of 16, he enrolled at the University of Keningsburg, the Foundation in which he served for the rest of his life. He studied philosophy and in 1755 received his doctorate, receiving permission to teach students. In 1770, he reached the position of the Regular Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at the same University Foundation.
The rigor, discipline and dedication to precision were concepts that characterized him as a human being. His daily schedule was set as a Swiss watch. He was waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, followed a rigorous work schedule and took his walk daily at exactly the same time, to the point that the city’s residents were regulating their watches on the basis of it. In general, he avoided exaggerations. Described as one very social manwho enjoyed discussions with his friends and colleagues. He had a particular sense of humor and appreciated kindness and decency in human relationships.
He called on people to overcome their spiritual immaturity, thinking independently and freely.
When he asked himself the question ‘What is the Enlightenment“, Kant answered a Latin aude:” Dare to find out! Have the courage to use your own intellect. ” Kant called on people to overcome their spiritual immaturity, thinking independently and freely, without in mind the authorities and the various stereotypes. According to him, immaturity was not due to the lack of mental abilities but to the Lack of courage to think of something on your own. In addition, he proclaimed that man understands and understands the world through his ideas and not through his senses, emphasizing subjectivity. The reason was not the basis of man’s knowledge of the world around him. Each person understands what happens through his own unique experience, in the context of the given space and time where he grew up and lives.
In the last years of his life he suffered from physical weakness. He left his last breath on February 12, 1804 at his home in Kenigsburg. His latest work, which he did not complete, was published many decades after his death entitled “Opus Postumum”.
Curated by: Myrto Katsiera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
