Kant: A Biography

254 Kant: A Biography

Later in 1782, there was a review in the Gothaische gelehrte Anzeigen. It
was more positive, if only because it restricted itself to a summary of the
work, calling attention to Kant's theory of space and time in particular. The
book contributed to the "honor for the German nation." It was "a monu¬
ment to the nobility and subtlety of the human understanding," but its
contents would also be "incomprehensible to the greatest majority of the
reading public." It was mainly for "the teachers of metaphysics."^26

Prolegomena: Not for "Mere Learners,

but... Future Teachers"

On February 4, 1782, the Königsbergische gelehrten und politischen Zeitun¬
gen published a short announcement of the first volume of Lambert's Cor¬
respondence as the first installment of an edition of Lambert's posthumous
works. Its purpose was to invite subscriptions, and its author was Kant.
He argued that the project was important and that the publication of
Lambert's works might help stem the tide of products by "the deviant
(verunartet) taste of the times." People had come to like the "insipid plays
of wit or mere copies of products, which are either outmoded or just for¬
eign." He expressed his hope that Lambert's works would also help to "en¬
liven the zeal of the learned men for the spread of useful and thorough
science, which has almost expired, and to make them complete the proj¬
ect that Lambert started, namely to found a confederation, which would
put up a united front against the ever-increasing power of barbarism, and
which would re-introduce thoroughness into science by improving certain
methods, which are still defective."^27 In other words, Kant was hoping that
others would endorse his own project of a critique of pure reason, which
he viewed as a continuation of Lambert's suggestions. This was also a first
response to those who either ignored his work or received it negatively.^28
One of the reasons Kant praised Lambert's correspondence was because it
contained his own letters to Lambert. Indeed, the letters show how close his
project was to that of Lambert and that Lambert took his work seriously. His
Critique should be seen as the continuation of the work started by Lambert.
Kant felt himself ignored by those on whom he had counted and treated
like an imbecile by those whom he did not respect. The review in the Go't-
tingische gelehrte Anzeigen was especially to blame. Its author had, he felt,
completely misunderstood the work. So, soon after the appearance of this
review, he began to think of a more popular and shorter treatment of the
subject matter of the Critique.