Kant: A Biography

Chronology of Kant's life and work; Prologue and epilogue, 'As You Like It'; 1. Childhood and early youth (1724-1740); 2. Student and private teacher (1740-1755); 3. The elegant magister (1755-1764); 4. Palingenesis and its consequences (1764-1769); 5. Silent years (1770-1780); 6. 'All-crushing' critic of metaphysics (1780-1784); 7. Founder of a metaphysics of morals (1784-1787); 8. Problems with religion and politics (1788-1795); 9. The old man (1796-1804); Bibliography.

Manfred Kühn, geboren 1947, war Professor für Philosophie an der Purdue University in den USA und in Marburg. Er lehrt jetzt an der Boston University. Neben vielen Arbeiten über Kant hat er Bücher und Aufsätze über David Hume, Thomas Reid und die Aufklärung in Schottland, Frankreich und Deutschland veröffentlicht.

'Kuehn's fine and rather touching biography reveals a philosophical life lived with pathos, courage and good humour, as well as a terrible and merciless intelligence.' Lingua Franca '... a timely and impressive achievement, a detailed, often subtle reading of a great thinker ...'. Toronto Globe and Mail 'Dispels the idea of Kant as colorless. Gives us a Kant we have never known before.' Washington Post Book World '... exhaustive and fascinating ...'. The New Republic 'Kuehns Werk is ausgezeichnet durch Vielseitigkeit der Interessen, Ausgewohnheit des Urteils und schriftstellerische Klarheit.' Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 'The first full biography in the proper sense of the term and therefore very welcome.' Literary Review 'An excellent new life ... a substantial biography.' The Economist 'Manfred Kuehn's book on Immanuel Kant is a fascinating and monumental treatment of one of the central figures of Western thought. This book fills a need, since it is the first full-length biography of Kant in fifty years; many of the earlier bibliographies were full of distortions and false stereotypes ... Kuehn's book ... is accessible to the general reader ...'. Times Higher Education Supplement 'Manfred Kuehn's book is a fascinating treatment of one of the central figures of western thought.' Harry Gensler, Times Higher Education Supplement 'The detail on his teaching is particularly good ... Kuehn is surprisingly good when summarizing the import of Kant's work ... the presentation of the ideas is impressive, clear and useful. This makes this a good introduction to Kant's work as well as an exemplary life ... it is both thoughtful and thought-provoking, and for such an unpromising story it is surprisingly interesting. There really is nothing comparable in this field. It should be on the shelves of anyone interested in Kant.' The Heythrop Journal 'Kuehn's study of Immanuel Kant's life and works combines the virtues of historical scholarship and philosophical analysis. It is