The Critical Philosophy of Immanuel Kant Essay -- Kant Philosophical E

The Critical Philosophy of Immanuel Kant Criticism is Kants original achievement it identifies him as one of the greatest thinkers of mankind and as one of the most influential authors in contemporary philosophy. But it is important to understand what Kant means bycriticism, or critique. In a general sense the term refers to a general cultivation of cerebrate by way of the secure path of science (Bxxx). More particularly, its wont is not negative, entirely positive, a fact that finds expression in the famous expression, I have therefore found it necessary to deny knowledge to make room for faith (Bxxx). Correspondingly, its negative use consists in not allowing ones self to venture with speculative reason beyond the limits of experience (Bxxiv). Thus, criticism removes the decisive hindrance that threatens to supplant or even destroy the absolutely necessary hardheaded employment of pure reason..in which it pure reason inevitably goes beyond the limits of sensibility (Bxxv). Acco rdingly, the critique guarantees a secure path for science by confining speculative reason and by giving practical reason the complete use of its rights rights that thus far had not been recognised. Place in the History of Ideas Kant, being confronted with the two extremes of rationalism and empiricism, set for himself the task of creating a synthesis of the two. As he saw it, rationalism operates in the sphere of innate ideas, with their analytical and therefore aprioristic ideas this necessity, however, is not ground on experience and consequently does not apply to reality itself. On the other hand empiricism starts completely from experience and thus (it seems) from reality, but it arrives solo at a posteriori and therefore synthetic... ... conceal, as it must do for Kant. Again the formal objects of the souls faculties in doubting Thomas corresponds to Kants forms thus knowledge through categories is not restrict to that which is for Man but opens up to that which is in its elf. Finally, the absoluteness of Kants moral imperative also receives its foundation in being, and thus theory and practice are brought into harmony. Bibliography Balterson, D. The Philosophy of Immanuel Kant Toronto, 1984 Jewson, M. Kant and the Critique of comminuted Reason Rome, 1986 Kant, I. Critique of Pure Reason N.K. Smith tr London, 1929 McConnor, T. The Philosophy of the Enlightenment London, 1989 Tonderson, P. Immanuel Kant The Critique of Of Pure Reason New York, 1987 Wallis, H. The Thought of Immanuel Kant New York, 1955 O Neill, P., SJ, Kant and Aquinas A Comparative Study, Rome, 1967