Critique of Pure Reason is one of the cornerstones in western philosophy. It was first published in 1781 and it was later followed by the works: Critique of Judgement and the Critique of Judgement. In Critique of Pure Reason, Kant outline his theories about space and time as a form of perceiving and causality as a form of knowing. Both space and time and our conceptual principles and processes pre-structure our experience.

Download the 890 pages PDF e-book here (huge file: 28 MB):

Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

Introduction to Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason

Who was Immanuel Kant?

Immanuel Kant was an influential German philosopher in the Age of Enlightenment, primarily known for his contributions to the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. Born in Königsberg,  now occupied by Russia, on April 22, 1724, Kant spent most of his life in his hometown.

Kant’s philosophical work is epitomized by his “Critique” series, which includes three major works: the “Critique of Pure Reason” (1781), the “Critique of Practical Reason” (1788), and the “Critique of Judgment” (1790). These works address, respectively, the foundations and limits of human knowledge, the philosophy of moral and ethical reasoning, and the critique of aesthetics and teleology.

One of his most significant contributions to philosophy is the concept of the “categorical imperative,” a principle that asserts that one should act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. This idea is a cornerstone of modern deontological ethics and asserts that morality is derived from rationality and the inherent dignity of human beings.

Kant’s influence extends beyond philosophy into other fields such as science, politics, and psychology, shaping modern thought with his rigorous approach to systematic philosophy. He passed away on February 12, 1804, but his ideas continue to resonate and influence various academic disciplines.