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Kant
Aphorisms
Kaliningrad 2010
UDK 1
BBК 87.3 (4г)
К15
Kant. Aphorisms / Comp. and ed. by Vladimir N. Bryushinkin. — Kaliningrad: Immanuel Kant State University Press, 2010. — 89 c.
ISBN 978-5-9971-0077-3
The English collection of extracts from the works of Immanuel Kant was prepared by Prof. Vladimir Bryushinkin with assistance from Dr. Vadim Chaly, Anna Bryushinkina and in collaboration with Prof. Robert Howell (State University of New York).
BBK 87.3 (4г)
UDK 1
ISBN 978-5-9971-0077-3
© Bryushinkin V.N.,
comp. and ed. 2010
© Immanuel Kant State
University Press
Kant. Aphorisms
1
TO THE READER
“Yesterday just after dinner I went to visit the renowned Kant, the profound metaphysician... I did not have
a letter of introduction for him, but daring seizes a city, and
I was admitted into the room” with these words Nikolai M.
Karamzin described his visit to the Königsberg philosopher
Immanuel Kant more than 200 years ago.
We, gentle reader, also do not have any letters of introduction, but the example of the famous Russian writer,
historian and traveller encourages and inspires to half-open
the door and to get a glimpse of the fancy world of Kant’s
thought. It is fancy, for the convoluted exterior form often
cloaks a pure miracle, one only has to unveil it.
Kant did not invent aphorisms. He is one of the most
systematic thinkers in the history of philosophy. Every
statement in his works has an inextricable link to the text
and his system of his views in whole. Almost every
phrase begins with “therefore”, “consequently”, “for”.
So it is rather difficult to single out profound and complete thoughts interesting in themselves and giving an
integral understanding of Kant’s philosophy. But due to
their short form they offer us an insight, become sayings,
worldly wisdom, a part of our world view.
1
Translation into English by Anna Bryushinkina.
3
Kant. Aphorisms
And as pieces of amber washed ashore inexorably attract us by the sunshine of bygone ages, the thoughts of
the critical philosopher astonish again and again by their
depth, unexpectedness and refinement.
Vladimir Bryushinkin
4
PERSONALITY
AND PHILOSOPHY
Kant. Aphorisms
6
Personality and philosophy
On Himself
I myself am a researcher from inclination. I feel the
entire thirst for knowledge and the eager unrest to go
further in it as well as the satisfaction with every acquisition. There was a time when I believed that this alone
could compose the honour of mankind and I despised the
rabble that knew of nothing. Rousseau brought me
around. This blinding preference vanished, I learn to
honour human beings…
I will never forget my mother, for she planted and
nourished the first seed of the Good in me, she opened
my heart to the impressions of the nature; she awakened
and widened my concepts, and her lessons have had an
enduring healing influence on my life.
Never, not a single time, was I allowed to hear anything indecent or to see anything unworthy from my
parents.
I
II
III
7
Kant. Aphorisms
…so I remain henceforth obstinate in my resolve not
to be tempted by any author’s itch into seeking fame in
easier, more popular fields, until I shall have freed my
thorny and hard ground for general cultivation.
…since from natural aversion I avoid anything that
looks pompous (partly because those who praise often
call forth those who reproach).
IV
V
I always hope to look at my judgements impartially
from the standpoint of someone else, so as to derive a
third view which is better than the one I had.
However near or far the goal of my life may be, I
will not end my career dissatisfied if I dare flatter myself
that what was started by my modest efforts might be
brought nearer and nearer to completion by skilful men
who zealously work to perfect the world.
VI
VII
8
Personality and philosophy
On Philosophy and Philosophers
Human reason has this peculiar fate that in one species of its knowledge it is burdened by questions which,
as prescribed by the very nature of reason itself, it is not
able to ignore, but which, as transcending all its powers,
it is also not able to answer.
... philosophy... is... the science of the relation of all
cognition and of all use of reason to the ultimate end of
human reason, to which, as the highest, all other ends are
subordinated, and in which they must all unite to form a
unity.
The field of philosophy in this cosmopolitan sense
can be brought down to the following questions:
1.What can I know?
2.What ought I to do?
3.What may I hope?
4.What is man?
I
II
9
Kant. Aphorisms
..the other [the value of philosophy] is that of moralpractical reason and is aimed at the final end, which is
unconditionally (categorically) demanded, namely the
end of creating people with an improved way of thinking.
III
Philosophy is the only science that knows how to
provide for us this inner satisfaction, for it closes, as it
were, the scientific circle, and only through it do the
sciences attain order and connection.
I know that there are many people that find philosophy a great deal easier than higher mathematics. But
what such people understand by philosophy is simply
what they find in books which bear that title.
..it is said of philosophy, for example, that she is the
handmaiden of theology... But it is not clear whether
«she bears the torch before her mistress or carries the
train behind».
IV
V
VI
10
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