1724-1804. German philosopher who believed
that knowledge is not merely an aggregate of
sense impressions but is dependent on the
conceptual apparatus of the human
understanding, which is itself not derived
from experience. In ethics, Kant argued that
right action cannot be based on feelings or
inclinations but conforms to a law given by
reason, the categorical imperative. Born in
Konigsberg (in what was then East Prussia),
he attended the university there, and was
appointed professor of logic and metaphysics
1770. His first book, Gedanken von der wahren
Schatzung der lebendigen Krafte/Thoughts on
the True Estimates of Living Forces, appeared
in 1747 and the Theorie des Himmels/Theory of
the Heavens in 1755. In the latter he
combined physics and theology in an argument
for the existence of God. In Kritik der
reinen Vernunft/Critique of Pure Reason 1781,
he argued that God's existence could not be
proved theoretically. Other works include
Prolegomena 1783, Metaphysik der
Sitten/Metaphysic of Ethics 1785,
Metaphysische Anfangsgrunde der
Naturwissenschaft/Metaphysic of Nature 1786,
Kritik der praktischen Vernunft/Critique of
Practical Reason 1788, and Kritik der
Urteilskraft/Critique of Judgement 1790. In
1797 ill health led to his retirement.