Kant; "Critique of Pure Reason" and other works
- Artist/Author/Producer: Kant, Immanuel (1724-1804)
- Confronting Bodies: the Lutheran Prussian State, King, Frederick William II
- Dates of action: 1793
- Location: Prussia, Italy, Soviet Union, Spain
- Description of the Art Work
- "Critique of Pure Reason," 1781: The result of some 10 years of thinking
and meditation. Kant inaugurated a new era in the development of
philosophical thought. His comprehensive and systematic work in theory
of knowledge, ethics, and esthetics greatly influence all subsequent
philosophy. Divided in two parts: Transcendental Doctrine of Elements
and Transcendental Doctrine of Method.
"Die Religion Innerhalb der Grenzen der Blossen Vernunft," 1793: Dispute
with Prussian authorities on the right to express religious opinion.
- Description of incident
- 1793, Prussia: "Die Religion Innerhalb der Grenzen der Blossen Vernunft,"
second part, was suppressed by the strongly Lutheran Prussian State
because it was opposed to the literal doctrines of the Lutheran Church.
- Results of incident
- 1793, Kanigsberg: Both parts were published, and Frederick William II
promptly forbade the author to lecture or write on religion, not so much
because of his religious unorthodoxly, as for his supposed sympathy with
French revolutionary ideas.
1827, Rome, Italy: "Critique of Pure Reason," in Italian, was placed on
the Index.
1928, Soviet Union: All works banned.
1939, Spain: France purged the libraries of "such disgraceful writers" as
Kant.
Source: Banned Books 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D., by Anne Lyon Haight, and Chandler B.
Grannis, R.R. Bowker Co, 1978.