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Immanuel Kant

1724–1804 · Enlightenment (German)

The philosopher who fused reason and experience and grounded morality in autonomy.

Primary Source

Handle nur nach derjenigen Maxime, durch die du zugleich wollen kannst, dass sie ein allgemeines Gesetz werde

Original (German)

“Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.”

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785)

Biography

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Major Works

• Critique of Pure Reason
• Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
• Critique of Practical Reason
• What is Enlightenment?

Key Concepts

• The categorical imperative
• Autonomy
• The phenomena/noumena distinction
• Dignity of persons

Influence & Modern Scholarship

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Connections

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