Kant's Philosophy

The Voice of Reason

300 years ago Immanuel Kant was born - and I want to dedicate an extensive series of lectures to his whole philosophy. I spent the past year studying the 29 volumes of Kant's collected works and reading at least a 100 pages of Kant every day, in order to now provide the probably most comprehensive and most thorough presentation on his philosophy which has been attempted so far, to show its inner systematic relations and, most of all, to identify Kant's contribution to the aufklärung of humanity.

  1. 3日前

    Kant's philosophy - Rational theology: How can we know God through reason?

    The philosopher does not do revealed theology which presupposes believe in some divine revelation, but tries to have cognition of God through reason alone. Here he is met with the difficulty of how the finite creature may grasp the infinite creator, and most of all with the danger of sliding into anthropomorphism. Quote: 0:08 Rational theology: 0:49 The difficulty of the cognition of God and of anthropomorphism: 6:31 How God can be talked about: 19:15 Via eminentiae: 30:40 Via negationis: 48:33 Via analogiae: 1:09:45 The fields of rational theology: 1:38:18 Kant's architectonic: 1:44:12 Thanks: 2:03:41 The table of categories according to Kant: https://jonathanivoloewer.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/table-of-categories-according-to-Kant.jpg Overiew over metaphysics according to Kant: https://jonathanivoloewer.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Metaphysics-according-to-Kant-scaled.jpg The thinking faculty according to Kant: https://jonathanivoloewer.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/faculty-of-thinking-according-to-Kant.jpg Overview over theology according to Kant: https://jonathanivoloewer.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/theology-according-to-Kant.png Whoever wants to get more in depth concerning Kant's theology and its method should study the lectures on rational theology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_r0k1/mode/2up, his lectures on metaphysics: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant_d7g2/mode/2up also contain many remarks on rational theology (I am not aware of a free English translation of either). Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - Rational theology: How can we know God through reason?
  2. 7月11日

    Kant's philosophy - What is the highest good?

    All moral action is working towards the realization of the highest good: A world in which people have happiness while also deserving it. But it is Kant's accomplishment to have shown two things: The highest good doesn't mark the beginning but the end of morality, we ought not to realize it because it is good, it is good because we ought to realize it. And the two halves of the highest good cannot be united in the sensual world - whereby it is pointing beyond, towards a supersensual world and forming a bridge from moral philosophy to the philosophy of religion. Quote: 0:08 The highest good in Kant's philosophy: 1:15 The highest good doesn't mark the beginning but the end of morality: 3:34 The highest physical good: 18:15 The highest moral good: 36:36 The highest (ethical) good: 1:02:32 The dialectic of practical reason: 1:18:55 Ancient attempts at solving the dialectic: 1:23:50 The highest physical and moral good are separated: 1:39:11 The highest juridical good: 1:51:31 Most of the time morality and prudence align: 2:03:58 Most people are bad and prefer their adventage over morality: 2:09:27 The common objections against Kant: 2:19:38 Morality is to be prefered over one's own adventage: 2:33:08 The solution of the dialectic of practical reason in religion: 3:02:17 Thanks: 3:09:49 The highest good Kant discusses in his Critique of Pure Reason: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4280/4280-h/4280-h.htm and most of all in his Critique of Practical Reason: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5683/5683-h/5683-h.htm Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - What is the highest good?
  3. 7月4日

    Kant's philosophy - Happiness through activity

    Most people seek a passive happiness: Resting, indulging, receiving pleasure. Kant however is aware that there is also an active happiness: Being active, creating, bringing forth meaning. Quote: 0:08 Kant teaches mostly a negative path to happiness: 0:20 Possible sources of happiness: 8:48 Passive & active happiness: 13:45 Why activity is pleasurable: 35:28 The active person doesn't only work but also rests or plays: 54:10 The unity of all sages and philosophers on happiness and how today it is not discussed: 58:33 Thanks: 1:19:42 On activity and the happiness growing out of it Kant never talked comprehensively or systematically but rather made remarks in various places. It is recommended to study especially his lectures on his topic, both his lectures on metaphysics: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant_d7g2/mode/2up as well as his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 as well as his lectures on moral philosophy: https://www.archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes271imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes272imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0027kant_s1s1/mode/2up (I am not aware of any English translations.) Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - Happiness through activity
  4. 6月27日

    Kant's philosophy - The happy life: Practical idealism and the constantly cheerful heart

    In theoretical regard Kant dismisses the idealism that declares the world to be a mere illusion. Practically, however, we should act as if it was true: We should consider the brevity and vanity of life, treat the world as a children's game and not take anything as important except our moral duty. This is the path to a constantly cheerful heart. Quote: 0:08 Nothing in life has value except our morality: 0:22 Life is short and fleeting: 27:54 Mere life, measured by its pleasure, is worthless: 34:43 Practical idealism: 54:18 The power of imagination as condition of the possibility of practical idealism: 1:21:41 The constantly cheerful heart: 1:51:44 Abstraction as means to a happy life: 2:01:00 Thanks: 2:22:23 The posture of practical idealism and the constantly cheerful heart Kant discusses mainly in his works on anthropology, so in his Anthropology from a pragmatic point of view: http://korpora.org/kant/aa07/230.html, his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 and his handwritten estate on anthropology: http://korpora.org/kant/aa15/234.html. (I could not find any free English translations online) But also his lectures on logic deal with art at times, that is with the difference between the aesthetical and the logical: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes241imma/page/n5/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes242imma/page/n7/mode/2up (English translations exist, but unfortunately I couldn't find them for free on the internet.) You may also gain an impression of Kant's attitude towards life with its brevity and towards death through his Thoughts on the Occasion of Mr. Johann Friedrich von Funk’s Untimely Death https://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/84129/excerpt/9780521884129_excerpt.pdf Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - The happy life: Practical idealism and the constantly cheerful heart
  5. 6月20日

    Kant's philosophy - Kant's Epicureanism: Modesty as key to a happy life

    Each inclination is a chain. It binds us to the objects which we need for satisfying it. And the more we satisfy it the more we become dependent on it through habit and also get numb towards the pleasure. Whoever wants to be happy therefore should not chase after satisfaction of his needs but strive for having as little needs as possible. Kant recommends along with Epicurus a modest life: Don’t deny yourself delights, don’t live in complete asceticism, but be content with little and simple delights, enjoy other pleasures from time to time when there is an opportunity, but don’t make yourself dependent on them. Quote: 0:08 The positive path towards happiness: Get what you require: 0:38 The negative path towards happiness: Require little: 19:10 Modesty instead of wantoness: 26:21 People should be able to do without, but not actually do without everything: 38:36 Whoever is dependent on things is immoral and unhappy: 1:04:14 Kant's advices: 1:35:26 - Abstain from futile desires: 1:36:13 - Think how many live without whatever is a need to you: 1:39:54 - Don’t let habits turn into inclinations through habit: 1:46:31 - Always keep some pleasures in prospect for later: 2:08:18 - Don’t sacrifice the whole for a part: 2:22:20 - Keep in mind that every gain is a loss and the other way around: 2:30:54 Conclusion: 2:41:24 Thanks: 2:45:16 The posture of modesty Kant discusses mostly in his lectures on moral philosophy: https://www.archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes271imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes272imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0027kant_s1s1/mode/2up and in his handwritten estate on moral philosophy: https://www.korpora.org/Kant/aa19/ (I am not aware of any English translations). Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - Kant's Epicureanism: Modesty as key to a happy life
  6. 6月13日

    Kant's philosophy - Kant's stoicism: Equanimity as key to a happy life

    People's misery mostly doesn't come from outside difficulties or blows of fate but from them letting things affect their mood too much and being too sensitive. Against this Kant advises a stoic equanimity: Allowing no thing an influence on one's psyche, not being sad about anything except one's own bad behaviour. This however doesn't mean indifference: A person should be sentimental and should take things to heart, that is let himself be moved, but they should not rob him of his peace of mind. Quote: 0:08 People aren't victims of their affections and passions: 1:29 The wise person does not need to overcome himself but isn't at war with himself in the first place: 13:25 People ought to be equanimous, not indifferent: 22:39 People ought to take things to heart, not let them affect their mood: 31:46 People ought to be sentimental, not sensitive: 51:55 True equanimity comes from character: 1:02:40 The oversensitivness of the present is an issue of civilization: 1:20:09 Equanimity does not go together with hedonism: 1:38:07 Thanks: 1:48:37 The posture of equanimity Kant discusses mainly in his works on anthropology, so in his Anthropology from a pragmatic point of view: http://korpora.org/kant/aa07/230.html, his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 and his handwritten estate on anthropology: http://korpora.org/kant/aa15/234.html. (I could not find any free English translations online) But also his lectures on logic deal with art at times, that is with the difference between the aesthetical and the logical: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes241imma/page/n5/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes242imma/page/n7/mode/2up (English translations exist, but unfortunately I couldn't find them for free on the internet.) Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - Kant's stoicism: Equanimity as key to a happy life
  7. 6月6日

    Kant's philosophy - Affections & passions and how they stand in the way of a happy life

    A person should tame their affections and passions. This is a moral duty, for through them you harm others but also lose your own reason and through this your freedom and your human dignity. It however is also advised pragmatically, for the affections and passions bring all kinds of misery upon people, an equanimous life which is free of them therefore is a more happy life. Quote: 0:08 Happiness we attain through independence: 0:58 Affections: 8:57 Passions: 33:36 The similarities between affections and passions: 49:48 The differences of affections and passions: 54:40 Passions are always directed at people: 58:58 Classification of passions: 1:12:37 1. Material passions: 1:22:35 2. Formal passions: 1:33:01 - The passion for freedom: 1:33:35 - The passions for honour, power and money: 2:08:25 The purpose of affections and passions: 2:27:09 Passions come about through the power of imagination: 2:47:24 Kant is the apologist of sensuality: 3:06:25 Thanks: 3:09:29 Overview over the faculties of the mind according to Kant: https://jonathanivoloewer.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/faculties-of-the-mind-and-critiques-according-to-Kant.jpg Affections and passions Kant discusses mainly in his works on anthropology, so in his Anthropology from a pragmatic point of view: http://korpora.org/kant/aa07/230.html, his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 and his handwritten estate on anthropology: http://korpora.org/kant/aa15/234.html. (I could not find any free English translations online) But also his lectures on logic deal with art at times, that is with the difference between the aesthetical and the logical: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes241imma/page/n5/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes242imma/page/n7/mode/2up (English translations exist, but unfortunately I couldn't find them for free on the internet.) Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via: https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

    Kant's philosophy - Affections & passions and how they stand in the way of a happy life

予告編

番組について

300 years ago Immanuel Kant was born - and I want to dedicate an extensive series of lectures to his whole philosophy. I spent the past year studying the 29 volumes of Kant's collected works and reading at least a 100 pages of Kant every day, in order to now provide the probably most comprehensive and most thorough presentation on his philosophy which has been attempted so far, to show its inner systematic relations and, most of all, to identify Kant's contribution to the aufklärung of humanity.