Critique of Pure Reason

Author: Immanuel Kant
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-08-09
Features: Preface to the Translator's Notes In Chinese academia, scholars and critics of reality are often abundant, yet are rare. Similar to the German scholar Kant, who, even when the storm of the French Revolution swept across the entire European continent, could still calmly persist in his critique of thought and reason. It is worth noting that the ideas of freedom, democracy, and equality advocated by the French Revolution ultimately had their theoretical foundations irrevocably laid by German thinkers. In comparison, despite our calls for democracy and science for over a century, we have yet to establish an irrevocable theoretical foundation for them. This not only delays our understanding and recognition of the true spirit of democracy and science but also to a considerable extent obscures and narrows the perspectives of our academic and intellectual circles. "Therefore, there remains a need to study Kant to this day, and to study Kant, one must first study his major works, Critique of Pure Reason and Introduction to Future Metaphysics. However, due to their profound and complex philosophical ideas and terminology, they often daunt beginners. Heinrich Ratke, a German scholar, wrote Dictionary of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason specifically to help beginners overcome these difficulties. (Although, from my perspective, even scholars and experts in Kant studies still find it necessary to have this work at hand as a reference guide for quick consultations.) As stated in the preface to the second edition (1972) of the dictionary, "Since its publication, the Critique of Pure Reason by Kant has undeniably been a cornerstone of philosophical research. This dictionary, since its first edition (1929), has been tested and proven reliable both in academic teaching as a systematic introductory guide to the primary work of critical philosophy and as a trustworthy reference book for self-study." Given the above, I believe that translating and publishing Heinrich Ratke's Dictionary of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason holds significant importance for Chinese academia, intellectual circles, and philosophy education in universities, as well as for general philosophy self-study.