Reflections on Kant

Reflections on Kant

Kant's essays, "Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose:, and "An Answer to the Question; Ð''What is Enlightenment?'"Ð'

As our colleague RMeyBrown did, I would also offer a brief introduction of myself. My name is Anne Shaw, and I am also a doctoral student in the College of Education. My department is Curriculum and Instruction, with a specialization in Curriculum Studies. Critical Pedagogy is my chosen area of focus for my research and dissertation. This led me to classes in the Philosophy Department at UT, and also to a course involving Critical Theory taught by Dr. Scheurich in Educational Administration. Most of my studies in philosophy have been of more recent philosophers and their works. Therefore, I am only vaguely knowledgeable of Kant and the other philosophers whose works we will discuss this semester. Ð'

This week I will respond to the readings by sharing my reflections as I read Kant for the first time.Ð'

I. Reflections on "Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose"Ð'

A. Optimism - Kant seems to definitely fall into the first category, or strand, of Critical Theory Ð'- those who are convinced of the possibility of a better world and a better life for its inhabitants which can be brought about through the development and use of critical theories of society. These philosophers are optimistic regarding the possibilities for social change.Ð'

B. Individual vs. Society - Kant seems to place the individual at a much lower level of importance than the society as a whole; this is demonstrated in several of his propositions, in which he states:Ð'

2nd Proposition - "they could be fully developed only in the species, but not in the individual"[i], and

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3rd Proposition - "the earlier generations seem to perform their laborious tasks only for the sake of the later ones . . . only the later generations will in fact have the good fortune to inhabit the building on which a whole series of their forefathers . . . had worked without themselves being able to share in the happiness they were preparing."[ii]

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5th Proposition - "the development of all natural capacities can be fulfilled for mankind only in society"[iii]

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Also, see his footnote (found on page 47 of our text) regarding our neighbours on other planets.

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However, in his 7th Proposition, Kant makes the connections between the individual and society in a manner similar to Foucault's use of the microcosm and the macrocosm: the same forces which drive man to be a social animal and to live in a civil society and the same forces which draw states into civil societies and relationships.[iv] Man the microcosm, the State the macrocosm Ð'- both controlled by the same forces of Human Nature.

C. Connections to later theories and theorists - In Kant's essays there appear to be the roots, or precursors, of later theories (or aspects of theories) such as Conscientization (as in Paulo Freire), Dialectics (Heidegger?, Marcuse? Hegel? Ð'- I need to go back and look up those fellows and dialectics), Social Democracy (from Gramsci and Marx to Giroux and Kellner), Social/Historical Materialism, and the Critical Theory