Immanuel Kant: Reason, Ethics, and Enlightenment

Philosophical Framework of Kant's Thought

Immanuel Kant was educated in Pietism, which understood the Christian faith as an active relationship with God and argued that the world would be Christianized through the individual practice of believers. Kant later came to hate Pietism, particularly its conception of man's relationship with God through prayer to obtain favors or ultimate salvation.

Major Works and the Power of Reason

Considered one of the most prodigious minds, Kant addressed the theory of knowledge and ethical issues in his seminal works, including the Critique of Practical Reason and the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. The fulcrum of his philosophy was reason. He sought to create a science to dominate nature through critical reason. His intention was to use reason independently, freely, and in public, which led in turn to the acceptance of the value of tolerance.

The Copernican Revolution in Knowledge

The focus of his reflection was man. In the field of knowledge, Kant expressed this through the figure of the Copernican Revolution. Just as Copernicus changed the prevailing geocentric interpretation of the time to place the Sun in the central position, Kant shifted the focus to place man at the center. To the author, the Enlightenment represents man's emergence from his self-imposed minority.

Autonomy and the Enlightenment Motto

Man himself was guilty of this lack of autonomy because of poor decisions and a desire for comfort. In this sense, the motto of the Enlightenment was: Have the courage to use your own understanding! The biggest obstacle was the one involving religious matters; in matters relating to the sciences and arts, rulers often did not exert a negative influence on the people.

Ethical Thought and the Reformation

One of the motives of Kant's ethical thought possibly stems from the dispute between predestination and free will, derived from the controversy between Luther, Calvin, and the Catholic Church. Luther argued that man's salvation depended not on the merit of his actions, but on the unconditional gift of divine grace. Although Luther was criticized for not emphasizing the importance of good works, he responded that they were the natural consequence of faith, and so that faith was not important.