Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks) [Paperback]

Sebastian Gardner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 041511909X | ISBN-13: 978-0415119092 | Publication Date: May 7, 1999

Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is arguably the single most important work in western philosophy. The book introduces and assesses:

* Kant's life and background of the Critique of Pure Reason
* the ideas and text of the Critique of Pure Reason
* the continuing relevance of Kant's work to contemporary philosophy.

Ideal for anyone coming to Kant's thought for the first time. This guide will be vital reading for all students of Kant in philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a quite outstanding introduction to the Critique ... It will help students not only to study the Critique, but also to see why it is so worth studying ... deserves to find itself, and pretty certainly will find itself, at the very top of the reading list for any course on the Critique.' - The Philosophical Quarterly

'In his clear and well-organized book, Gardner succeeds in providing a charitable and compelling reading of the most important sections of Kant's text, while also offering fresh and lucid interpretations of Kant's most provocative arguments. The result is an invaluable companion to the Critique that helpfully illuminates a notoriously opaque work ... Gardner's book is an invaluable resource for any student of Kant and, thus, for any student or teacher of philosophy.' - Mind

The major virtues of Gardner's book are clarity, accuracy, and its focus on the key concepts and arguments of Kant's notoriously complex work. Both serious students and Kant scholars will benefit greatly from Gardner's contribution. - Philosophical Books

About the Author

Sebastian Gardner is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of London. He is the author of Irrationality and the Philosophy of Psychoanalysis (1993).

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (May 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041511909X
• ISBN-13: 978-0415119092
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Rate, December 16, 2005

By 

meadowreader (Sandia Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks) (Paperback)

The person who develops an interest in philosophy is likely to discover that, much as you might prefer it weren't so, you can't get very far without a decent knowledge of Kant. Everywhere you turn, he keeps showing up. You can finesse Hegel, you can finesse Heidegger, but you can't finesse Kant. You have to bite that bullet, the only question is where to start. This is where to start.

Gardner has written a superb guidebook to Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, and by far the best available introduction to Kant, period. This book has been reprinted four times since it was published in 2000, and I think that's because there is nothing else like it. A few reviewers have complained about a lack of clarity here and there. Well, maybe, (an early section on the problem of reality struck me that way on first reading), but we are talking about Kant here, after all. If you hit a patch like that, just plow ahead and come back and try that section again later on. If it's a discussion of some specialized topic that doesn't interest you, skip it. There is so much in Kant, that if you get most of it, you get a lot.

Besides describing and explaining Kant's ideas themselves, Gardner also does a terrific job of discussing the major issues and controversies connected with the interpretation and implications of those ideas. Some of those, like questions about the ontological and epistemological status of ultimate reality ("things in themselves"), have never receded from philosophical debate and probably never will. Near the back is an excellent chapter that locates the CPR within the larger body of Kant's work; the final chapter describes the kind of reception the CPR got when it was originally published, and the sort of influence it has had subsequently. The bibliography is outstanding, and if you want more, the philosophy department at University College London (Gardner is a faculty member there) has outstanding bibliographic resources available on-line.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a clear story, March 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks) (Paperback)

For those who are looking for a clear account of Kant's work, Gardner's introduction to the Critique of Pure Reason is an excellent choice. Due to the ambiguity in Kant's prose, the Critique of Pure Reason is virtually impossible for Kant beginners to fully comprehend on their own. This book provides an excellent foundation for further inquiry. I highly recommend it.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Penetrating the labyrinth., July 28, 2004

By 

John C. Landon "nemonemini" (New York City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason (Routledge Philosophy GuideBooks) (Paperback)

Correctly assessing the argument in Kant's first Critique is one of the most difficult exercises in philosophy and often overly stylized summaries induce illusions of clarity, when the real argument is in the background, almost too arcane to be grasped, and leaving one in the distressing condition of realizing one hasn't understood a thing. This account has to be the best of the lot, attempting without compromises to survey the whole majestic range. Good job.