How did you come to understand Kant?

Question

His writing is almost indecipherable to me. I want to understand his ideas, but it's all flying right over my head. I've been studying philosophy for three years and the "Critique of Pure Reason" is by far the most dense, confusing thing I've ever taken a stab at. Is there a helpful book or website you'd recommend to a Kant novice like myself?

Answer 1

I can't.


ahahahhhhhaaaaaahhhaaaaa
get it? Kant-Can't?

hahahahhahahaha!

Answer 2

I didnt have a problem when I got to Kant...
I kinda read all the classical philosophy works in chronological order, which means when I was reading Kant, i had also read the things he was familiar with, which may mean I understood his allusions and language easier. Of course, giving yourself the same education as Kant before reading his stuff is a time consuming process to say the least. But i think this is generally the source of difficulty in reading many classics...Most of the writers are assuming the audience has had a 'classical' education, no longer the case.

Answer 3

Step 1:
Learn German
Step 2:
Get really good at reading German
Step 3:
Read easier works by Kant, like "prelogamina" or groundwrok for all future metaphysics. Make sure you understand them
Step 4:
Move on to the critiques

If REALLY desired you may skip steps 1 and 2.

Answer 4

Yes...Kant is dense, long-winded, and mind-numbing.

Get a copy of his "Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics." It's essentially a very, very abridged version of the Critique; i.e., it covers all the main points. Once you have that under your belt, pull out the Critique again and give yourself a LOT of time (months) to read it. Having the Prolegomena understood makes the Critique feel a little less intimidating, because you already understand the central ideas.

Answer 5

My recommendation is to read a good historical survey of the Enlightenment and see what themes pre-occupied philosophy in that time. Further, look in a good dictionary of philosophy, for a definition of rationalism and of modernity. Once you can situate Kant historically and get a better understanding of the ideas that folks were emphasizing at the time, his works become more accessible.

Answer 6

I found the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig to be very useful.
Don't despair! Kant is obscure even to Germans.

Answer 7

Reading any of the intro to Kan books is a good idea and The Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a most remarkable source. It's been available at most reference sections that I've visited. The most important thing is to keep at it.

Answer 8

This book will help you decipher Immanuel Kant.

Answer 9

I Kant.

Answer 10

There's no such word as kant.