CHAPTER 10
Kant and Schopenhauer:
Idealism and Pessimism
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Immanuel Kant was bom in Konigsburg, East Prussia. His
parents were deeply religious and hoped for a career in the
ministry for their very talented son. He had a sound education as
a youth and entered the University of Konigsberg, ostensibly to
study for the ministry. Instead, he studied mostly mathematics
and science.
After the death of his parents, he had to discontinue his studies
because of lack of funds. He worked as a tutor for many
prominent local families, then resumed his studies and eventu
ally became a professor of logic and metaphysics at the Univer
sity of Konigsburg. He was an extremely popular teacher and
writer and although his reputation grew throughout Europe,
Kant never left the immediate environs of his hometown.
While personally a man of rigid habits and careful routine (it
was said that neighbors would set their clocks according to his
comings and goings), Kant had a liberated mind which actively
pursued interests in religion, the French and American Revolu
tions, as well as philosophy. Eventually, his religious views
which were at odds with the government, were censored and he
was forbidden to write on the subject.
His major work, Critique o f Pure Reason, was published in
1781, followed by other works dealing with morality, The
Fundamental Principles o f the Metaphysics of Morals and The
Critique o f Practical Reason. He also wrote Perpetual Peace, an
expression of his social and political views, in which he suggests
a “League of Nations” to solve international disputes.
Immanuel Kant’s old age was marred by serious mental and
physical deterioration, and he died ten years after the onset of his
illness, in 1804.
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