Kant’s Enlightenment

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Kant’s invitations to lunch: Although Kant lived a rather secluded life, h
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. © Emil Dörstling (1859-1940), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons all’images in original size .
He was the founder of the German Enlightenment. His thinking was cosmopolitan, despite never having left Königsberg. Immanuel Kant was born 300 years ago in Königsberg, now Kaliningrad. His philosophical and academic achievements remain. The Categorical Imperative may still be familiar to many from school. This edition of forsch presents two key areas of Kant studies conducted in Bonn, reveals what you can expect in Bonn this year, and provides some scintillating insights that will help you shine during the Kant tercentenary.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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

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The Digital Kant Center provides accompanying information

The new Digital Kant Center in North Rhine-Westphalia offers digital content to accompany the Kant Year. Bonn’s philosophers are currently considering the issues of ’Kant and the problem of an international peace order’ and ’Kant and the problem of migration’. Its work includes the Kant Today podcast, regular workshops, the Kant in Five Minutes video series and the weekly Digital Kant Lectures.

Why, according to Kant, is the rule of law essential for a peaceful world?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Hamas’ attack on Israel are just two of the many conflicts that continue to shake the world. War would just seem to be part of human nature. Although making this observation 230 years ago, the polymath Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) then proceeded to formulate a 100-page blueprint for perpetual peace. Professor Rainer Schäfer from the Digital Kant Center NRW in Bonn discusses the practicality of Kant’s concept and its relevance for the 21st century.

Kant’s doctrine of world citizenship, his view of migration and its contemporary significance

Everyone has the right to visit and reside in a foreign country: thus a central aspect of Immanuel Kant’s doctrine of global citizenship. In this interview, Professor Christoph Horn (University of Bonn) from the Digital Kant Center NRW explains Kant’s view of migration, why he considered the drawing of borders to be arbitrary, and the contemporary relevance of this doctrine.


    Podcast: Kant and migration. Kant’s right to world citizenship, his view of migration and its significance to this day



The new "Digital Kant Centre North Rhine-Westphalia" offers digital content relating to the Kant Year. In Bonn, academics are conducting research on the topics of "Kant and the problem of an international peace order" and "Kant and the problem of migration".

This includes the podcast "Kant Today", regular workshops, the video series "Kant in Five Minutes" and the weekly Digital Kant Lectures.