Both Kant and Hume are considered two of the most influential philosophers of all time. However, they have very different views on the nature of reality. Kant was a believer in metaphysical realism, while Hume was a skeptic who believed that all knowledge is derived from experience. In this post, we will explore the difference between Kant’s and Hume’s views and discuss which philosopher had the more accurate understanding of reality.
Who is Kant?
Kant was born in 1724 in Königsberg, which is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Kant’s father was a harness maker, and Kant’s mother was the daughter of a master tailor. Kant’s parents were devout Lutherans, and Kant himself was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Kant attended the University of Königsberg, where he studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy. Upon graduation, Kant became a private tutor before taking a position as a lecturer at the University of Königsberg. Kant remained at the university for the rest of his life, teaching classes on logic, metaphysics, ethics, and history. Kant’s most famous work, The Critique of Pure Reason, was published in 1781. In this work, Kant sought to synthesize the empiricist and rationalist traditions in philosophy. Kant argued that human beings experience the world through their senses, but that our understanding of the world is shaped by our innate ideas and concepts. Kant’s work had a profound influence on philosophy and ushered in a new era of philosophical thought.
Who is Hume?
Hume is best known for his work as a philosopher, but he also made important contributions to the fields of history and economics. Hume was born in Scotland in 1711, and he studied at the University of Edinburgh. After a brief period working as a librarian, Hume embarked on a philosophical career. His most famous work, “A Treatise of Human Nature,” was published in 1739. In it, Hume argued that humans are not capable of knowing objective truths; instead, they can only know what they have experienced themselves. This theory had a profound impact on subsequent philosophers, and it continues to be influential today. Hume also wrote works on history and religion, but it is his philosophy that he is most remembered for. Hume died in 1776.
Difference between Kant and Hume
Kant and Hume are two of the most important philosophers of the Enlightenment period. Kant was a German philosopher who is best known for his work in epistemology and Ethics, while Hume was a Scottish philosopher who is best known for his work in the Philosophy of Mind. Both Kant and Hume were influenced by the work of Rene Descartes, but they had different approaches to philosophical problems. Kant believed that reason was the ultimate source of knowledge, while Hume believed that experience was the ultimate source of knowledge. Kant also believed that ethics were based on reason, while Hume believed that ethics were based on sentiment. These different views led to different conclusions about important philosophical problems. Kant’s view of reason led him to believe in objective truths, while Hume’s view of experience led him to believe in subjective truths. Kant’s view of ethics led him to believe in universal moral principles, while Hume’s view of ethics led him to believe in particular moral principles. These different views continue to influence philosophy today.
Conclusion
The difference between Kant and Hume can be boiled down to their understanding of causation. For Kant, causation is a necessary connection between two events, while Hume believed that it was nothing more than an association of ideas. This distinction has important implications for how each philosopher approaches ethics and morality.