Kant is arguably the most influential modern philosopher, but also one of the most difficult. Roger Scruton tackles his exceptionally complex subject with a strong hand, exploring the background to Kant's work and showing why the "Critique of Pure Reason" has proved so enduring.
Kant: A Very Short Introduction
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"Roger Scruton faced perhaps the most intractable task of all in giving an elementary account of Kant's philosophy... but he does it extremely elegantly and neatly."--Listener
About the Author
Roger Scruton is a well-known philosopher and the author of The Aesthetics of Music and a co-author of German Philosophers: Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche.
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First Sentence
The greatest modern philosopher was moved by nothing more than by duty. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The greatest modern philosopher was moved by nothing more than by duty. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Steve M
Format:Paperback
My expectations of this book were never towards a light, easy read. The VSIs on Hume, Hobbes and Spinoza were all tough for the general reader, but, with perseverance, not insurmountable. This one, I'm afraid, defeated me. I forced myself through to the end, and what I understood, I enjoyed. Most interesting to me was Scruton's account of Kant's political vision and the introduction to Kant's metaphysics with relation to the rationalist/empiricist positions of Leibniz and Hume.
Beyond that, there were large chunks that, for me at least, made for tortuous reading - no doubt a reflection of my own intellectual limitations rather than any failing of the author, who, to be fair, pre-warns that a re-read will be necessary. I realise that Kant's ideas are notoriously tough even without their own ambiguities and contradictions, but other readers have obviously got a lot out of this book, so I shall probably file this under 'to re-read'. In the meantime, take this rating as a first impression - possibly of use to other beginners, and hopefully to be revised at a later date.
Beyond that, there were large chunks that, for me at least, made for tortuous reading - no doubt a reflection of my own intellectual limitations rather than any failing of the author, who, to be fair, pre-warns that a re-read will be necessary. I realise that Kant's ideas are notoriously tough even without their own ambiguities and contradictions, but other readers have obviously got a lot out of this book, so I shall probably file this under 'to re-read'. In the meantime, take this rating as a first impression - possibly of use to other beginners, and hopefully to be revised at a later date.
68 of 71 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Kant's arguments are some of the most inpenetrable in modern philosophy. Roger Scruton condences Kant's philosophical system into a hundred and forty pages; symplifying Kant's arguments (without over-simplyfying them) so that you can see how they fit together. I can't recommend this book highly enough for someone interested in the most influential philosopher, or for the student or specialist.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Kant: A Very Short Introduction" is an elegantly written and stimulating introduction to the theories of Immanuel Kant that explains his main ideas in clear and concise language. Be aware, however, that while this book is indeed an excellent breakdown of Kant's ideas, the ideas themselves are very complex (so serene was the philosopher's thought), which doesn't make this introduction the totally easy read you might assume it to be. You may have to re-read a few of the passages to enjoy and assimilate the ideas within. For me, the best way to appreciate them and learn from the book was by reading it in a relaxed enviroment without any distractions or disruptions.
I bought this book to help me understand some of the texts and the references in them that I come across and must read in my work. I've found the book to be majorly useful and so am very happy with the purchasel. I would certainly recommend it.
I bought this book to help me understand some of the texts and the references in them that I come across and must read in my work. I've found the book to be majorly useful and so am very happy with the purchasel. I would certainly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Kant: A very difficult introduction
I echo the words of a reviewer of another of the very short introduction series: 'too difficult - a philosophy undergraduate would have difficulty in reading this'. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. M. J. Semple
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scruton has done the impossible.
Scruton has done a decent job of making Kant understandable to the layman. Before tackling any of Kant's primary works for instance his Critiques, this book is a must read. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Owen Retsof
5.0 out of 5 stars
this book requires a careful reading...
Kant is one of the most difficult philosophers to understand so it is not surprising that this book requires a careful reading and close examination in most parts. Read more
Published 20 months ago by S. MOHAMADI
4.0 out of 5 stars
It would be unreasonable not to...
This is a very simple guide to Immanuel Kant's philosophy, which is too complicated to read in the original, full translation. Read more
Published on 20 April 2011 by Patrick Neylan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very accessible introduction to Kant
Kant is one of those modern philosophers whose presence looms large over much of what has been achieved over the past couple of centuries in modern philosophy, and yet he is not... Read more
Published on 8 April 2011 by Dr. Bojan Tunguz
3.0 out of 5 stars
good introduction
bought this for uni studies and it suited its purpose can be difficult to read a certain points thou but overall good if you want to know a foundation of kantian theory
Published on 13 July 2010 by R. J. Riley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clear, simple but detailed.
Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly detailed.
The book begins with a short history on Kant. This includes who his family was, the time period in which he lived, how he was... Read more
The book begins with a short history on Kant. This includes who his family was, the time period in which he lived, how he was... Read more
Published on 4 July 2010 by Mr. B. Shepherd
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not an introduction, more a review of Kant's ideas
The reason why I am writing this review is because I felt the reviews I read here when deciding on whether to purchase this book does not correspond with my experience of reading... Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2010 by Fred Cai
5.0 out of 5 stars
A difficult read made easy
This was a brilliant book to help understand the fundamentals of Kant. I flew my exam after reading it. I'd recommend it for scholars or just people with an interest. Read more
Published on 9 July 2008 by Michelle Leyden
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb introduction to Kant
Roger Scruton writes with beautiful clarity about philosophy in general and Kant in particular. This short book lays out the main themes of Kant's thought in a prose that makes... Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2007 by E A Blair
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