KANT - THE SEARCH

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>KANT</FONT><BR> THE CRITIC</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Search for Truth</B></FONT><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>A GERMAN ENLIGHTENMENT</B></FONT><BR> Kant was, in his own words, roused from "dogmatic slumbers" by the extreme <A HREF="../t03/g047.html" TARGET="_top">scepticism</A> of the British philosopher, David <A HREF="../t06/t06f13.html" TARGET="_top">Hume</A>. In response, Kant was inspired to create a theory of knowledge which synthesized the extreme and opposing viewpoints of the British <A HREF="../t03/g012.html" TARGET="_top">empiricists</A> and the French <A HREF="../t03/g043.html" TARGET="_top">rationalists</A>. From the relative backwater of Königsberg , Kant sought to replace the appeal to experience and the appeal to reason with a critical analysis of the way reason functions in organizing experience. In doing so he created a philosophy which, in <A HREF="../16/16f01.html" TARGET="_top">Hegel's</A> words, "constitutes the basis and point of departure for modern German philosophy" - a German Enlightenment (Aufklärung).<P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>UNENLIGHTENED RESPONSE</B></FONT><BR> The accession of Frederick II to the Prussian throne reversed the tolerant attitude of the previous "enlightened" regime of Frederick the Great. Censorship now sought to curb freedom of the press and Kant's Critical Philosophy was less well received. Following publication of "Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone", Kant received a cabinet order reprimanding him for the misuse of philosophy to "distort and disparage many of the cardinal and basic teaching of the Holy Scripture". He was ordered to give a "conscientious account" of himself, and threatened with unpleasant measures for continued obstinacy. He was forced to agree not to discuss religion in either his lectures and writings. <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>