Emmanuel Kant

Emmanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German-philosopher. He was born in a poor family. 

He led a mechanical life of a bachelor in the old town of Canonsburg in north-east Germany. He 

was regular in his habits and left home at fixed time. Even people set their watches when they 

saw him on Lime Tree Road. He was keenly interested in critical philosophy. He was a fan of 

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Hegel. He was a notable teacher in jurisprudence and metaphysics at the university of Canonsburg. He was also very famous writer. His writings include 

(i) Critique of pure Reason, (ii) Judgment (iii) Practical Reason (iv) Metaphysics first principles of the Theory of Law and (v) Eternal Peace.

Kant as a scholar opposed extreme materialism spread by philosophy of individualism. 

He gave more importance on man's soul than his physical force. He also developed the concept 

of universal moral law and freedom. He believed that law protects and inspires freedom. He laid 

more stress on statecrafts. He considered law, freedom and rights more important. His ideas gave 

birth to liberalism. He also awakened the spirit of nationalism and national integration.

He had given great importance to the concept of moral will and freedom. In this way he 

supported Rousseau i.e. a person acting according to his moral will, will attain freedom. He laid 

stress on moral nature and did not consider material progress as progress at all. Desires are moral 

or moral. Amoral desires do not represent the true desires of man. The moral desires which are an outcome of reason are true desires. Duty must be done irrespective of its consequences. Moral 

will is universal. Conduct must be good, bad conduct is self-defeating.

Kant was not infavour international war. He supported a world state and an agency to 

control international relations. He suggested the separation of executive and judiciary as organs 

of state. Administration should reflect the will of the people. He did not advocate any particular 

form of government but insisted on the moral freedom of the individual. In his views, people are 

the source of law.

In fact, Kant favored the sovereignty of the people. He justified the existence of an 

absolute monarchy. He gave much importance on moral freedom of individual.