Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant was born on April 22, 1724, in Königsberg, then an important city under the Kingdom of Prussia. Since the end of the Second World War, it has become part of the Soviet Russia and renamed as Kaliningrad.

Since Old Prussian Almanac associated his date of birth with the name "Emanuel", he was baptized as such. Much later, he changed his name to Immanuel, because he thought it was more faithful rendition of the original Hebrew word.

His father, Johann Georg Kant, was a master harness-maker in Königsberg. Originally from Tilsit, he moved to Königsberg, where he married Emmanuel’s mother, Anna Regina Kant nee Reuter. Since she was the daughter of another master harness-maker, the marriage helped Johann to get membership of the guild.

Immanuel was born fourth of his parents’ nine children, having three sisters and one brother surviving into adulthood. Out of his surviving sisters, one was elder to him by five years while two others were much younger. His surviving brother, Johann Heinrich, was younger to him by eleven years.

Immanuel had highest regard for his parents, who were initially quiet affluent. Later they lost much of their wealth; but were never in debt. Belonging to the Protestant sect of Pietists, they stressed on devotion and humility, concurrently providing a warm and supportive environment that helped him to grow self-confidence.

By the time he finished his schooling, Immanuel Kant was well qualified for university education in theology, law, philosophy, or the classics. On 24 September 1740, he entered the University of Königsberg, possibly with theology; but very soon, his interest turned to philosophy, mathematics and physics.

Studying with Martin Knutzen, a rationalist, familiar with the development of British philosophy and science, Kant was introduced to the works of Gottfried Leibniz, Christian Wolff and Isaac Newton. Knutzen also cautioned him against theory of idealism and of pre-established harmony.

In 1744, he started working on his first book, ‘Gedanken von der wahren Schätzung der lebendigen Kräfte’ (Thoughts on the True Estimation of Living Forces). However, he would take quite a few years to complete it.

His father died in 1746. As the eldest son, it fell upon him to provide for his younger siblings. He next tried to obtain the post of under-tutor in one of the university schools, but failing to do, he withdrew himself from the university shortly after August 1748.

From 1748 to 1754, Kant worked as a private tutor in three different families living in Judtschen, Arnsdorf, and Rautenbu. It gave him the opportunity to be introduced to the higher society and acquire social grace. Meanwhile, he continued with his scholarly pursuit.

As Privatdozent, Immanuel Kant was neither allowed to teach university courses nor use university halls. Nor did he receive any salary. As per tradition, a privatdozent was required to collect fees from the students attending his lectures. Therefore, his earnings depended solely on the number of students attending his lectures.

From the beginning, he was a popular lecturer, punctuating his talks with wit, as a result of which his lecture hall was always nearly full. However, he demanded attention, never repeating anything and discouraged note taking because he believed that note-takers generally leave behind important points.

Initially, to maintain himself, Kant had to give many lectures. In the winter on 1755-56, he taught logic, metaphysics, mathematics, and physics. In the summer of 1756, he also started lecturing on geography, adding ethics in the next winter.

In 1756, he unsuccessfully applied for the position left vacant by the death of his erstwhile professor Martin Knutzen. Once again in December 1758, when the position held by Georg David Kypke fell vacant he applied for it; but this time too he was declined.

In spite of repeated failure to obtain paid position, his reputation as a scholar and teacher continued to rise. Continuing to publish many important papers, he also began to climb the social ladder, being regularly invited to the dinner by Count Keyserlin, growing a closeness that would last thirty years.