The Philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Kant’s Contribution to the Enlightenment Period

Essay from the year 2018 in the subject Philosophy - Miscellaneous, grade: 60, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, course: BA Politics, language: English, abstract: The enlightenment period otherwise known as the age of reason was an era or rather an academic movement where political thinkers started to question traditional authority. The era of enlightenment dominated European countries from the 18th century. The primary idea of the enlightenment period was human reasoning as the source of authority and legitimacy. This led to the state of individuals being free from oppressive restrictions imposed by the state, the separation of the state from the church as well as the idea of individual freedom and ethical behaviour. The period of enlightenment was about questioning human rationality and the general belief in human progress, as a result the French and American revolution were born of the enlightenment period. This essay is aimed at looking into the ideas of one of the early enlightenment philosophers Immanuel Kant.