Kant’s Enlightenment Project Kant’s Enlightenment Project

Kant’s routines: Kant followed a set of routines to insulate himself from external influences and keep him free to think. These included getting up at 5 am, drinking a morning coffee and wearing his special black coat. His daily walk at 7 am was so punctual that the people of Königsberg were said to be able to set their watch by it. “These famous habits developed mainly in the last phase of Kant's life,” says Professor Christoph Horn.

Kant's invitations to lunch: Although Kant lived a rather secluded life, he often hosted lunches and discussion groups, and invited leading members of the Königsberg citizenry to his home to discuss current affairs. The only condition: no philosophy.

Liberal attitudes develop after a pietist upbringing: Kant was born in Königsberg, contemporary Kaliningrad, to what today would be considered evangelical parents. He attended a Pietist grammar school. “For Kant, the Enlightenment represents both a personal release from the narrow confines of his early life and a movement of socio-political liberation,” says Professor Horn.

His most important works: Of his central works, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (1781) addresses the limits and scope of human knowledge. Whilst the Critique of Practical Reason (1788) focuses on morality—the categorical imperative, freedom and ethics— Kant addresses aesthetics, teleology, nature, art and taste in the Critique of Judgment and presents his first treatment of ethics in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785).

The categorical imperative: Kant argues that an action is morally good if it can be generalized, i.e. the meaning of an action can reasonably be accepted by all people as a general law without contradicting itself or harming others. Kant stresses the innate dignity and moral value of every human being; we are not permitted to use others as a means to our own advantage, but must always respect their dignity.

Marking Kant’s 300th birthday with a conference in Bonn: A conference organized in Bonn to celebrate the tercentenary of Kant’s birth will discuss ‘Kant’s Enlightenment Project’ with special reference to contemporary political developments. Up to 400 speakers are expected in Bonn between September 9 and 13. The 14th Kant Congress was originally to take place in Kaliningrad, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine made it impossible to celebrate the liberal thinker in his birthplace. Further information about the conference and how to participate in it is available under the link