Immanuel Kant's Understanding Of Modernism

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An understanding of Modernism can partly be established from the writings of philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), particularly when concerned with understanding the influence of the Enlightenment. Answering the question ‘what is enlightenment’, Kant (pg. 54, 1784) relates the necessity of the emergence of mankind from a “self-incurred immaturity” characterised by an “inability to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another” (pg. 54). For Kant, it is the ability to reason independently from dogmatic institutions that best summarises the principles of enlightenment. In his writing, there is particular emphasis on a dissolution of the public control of the Church, thereby challenging the relationship between Church and state. …show more content…

The thinking of Kant, and his belief in the independence of human reasoning away from religious institutions can be seen as somewhat comparable to the efforts of the Reformation. Although for the Reformers, the argument had been primarily for a revision of the theology of the Church, they had still contributed to the growing scepticism towards the practices and authority of the Catholic Church. Kant similarly challenges the authority of religious institutions and calls for a focus on human reasoning and an independence of state from Church authority. Rather than an assumed adherence to ‘cultic practices’, Kant believes that only through the use of independent public reasoning, Kant argues, can society be considered ‘free’ (pp.54-. Both the views of Kant, following the views of the Reformers, can be seen to contribute towards a growing belief in the independence of religious

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