by Angela Donlon-Gatchell

Created on: August 19, 2008

Known as one of the most influential thinkers of modern Europe and of the late Enlightenment, Immanuel Kant focused on epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. Born April 22, 1724, he was the fourth of eleven children in which only five reached adulthood. He was a man who never travelled more than 100 miles from his hometown of Konigsberg, Kingdom of Prussia. He is most known for his works "The Critique of Pure Reason" tackling the contradictions in perception and conception, followed by the "Critique of Practical Reason" which focused on ethics and the "Critique of Judgement" which investigates aesthetics and teleology: the study of design and purpose.

Kent was an avid student his entire life. His studies began at home with emphasis on Latin and religion. His parents focus on "intense religion devotion, personal humility, and a literal interpretation of the Bible." Mathematics and Science as not intertwined in his studies until he was enrolled in the University of Konigsberg in 1740 at the age of 16. He studied philosophy under the tutelage of Martin Knutsen who was a rationalist. Knutsen introduced the ne mathematical physics of Newton and changed the belief system of Kant from the theory of pre-established harmony which he regarded as "the pillow for the lazy mind" and from idealism.

1746 Kant's father died from a stroke and without his father or the financial assistance, Kant put his studies on hold. He became a tutor in the small surrounding towns of Konigsberg which made both him and his name well known. Kant continued his research and studies on his own and in 1749 he published his first philosophical work, "Thoughts on the True Estimation of Living Forces". He published several more works of scientific nature and became a university lecturer in 1755. He lectured on metaphysics, the science of ultimate reality.

Kant was also known for opening a virtual door for astronomy taking the research to higher levels than imagined with his "Nebular Hypothesis" which stated that the Solar System was formed from a large cloud of gas called the nebula. He would continue with an explanation of the order of the solar system which Newton gave credit to God for. Kant proclaimed the Milky Way was a large disk of stars which was formed by a larger spinning cloud of gasthe same theory he held for the solar system as a whole. The philosopher then focused his attention on philosophical issues while continuing to pen publications of the scientific nature.

At the age of 45 (1770)

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