IMMANUEL KANT
He critically examines the powers and limits of reason and explores autonomy: judging and acting by principles one can rationally endorse rather than merely following another’s direction.

1724–1804Enlightenment · Critical philosophy · EthicsPrussia · Germany
Other names and spellings
임마누엘 칸트 · 칸트 · Emanuel Kant
Core ideas
ENLIGHTENMENTAUTONOMYCRITICAL PHILOSOPHYDUTYPUBLIC REASON
Works & sources
“An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment?” (1784), translated by Lewis White Beck
IMMANUEL KANT, a first reading
Kant critically examined what reason can know and what we ought to do.
Autonomy: what does it mean?
Autonomy is more than doing whatever we want. It involves taking responsibility for principles that reason can justify universally, while respecting others as persons with ends of their own.
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