Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant, the son of a saddler, was born in Konigsberg, Prussia, in 1724. He studied and later taught at the University of Konigsberg. In 1770 he became Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at the university.
Kant's early publications concerned geophysics, astronomy and cosmology. His later works were concerned with philosophy. In 1781 Kant published Critique of Pure Reason. This was followed by Groundwork to the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) and Critique of Judgement (1790).
In the book he argued that by the use of our own reason we can discover and live up to the basic principles of knowledge and action without outside assistance or divine intervention.
In 1795 Kant published Philosophical Project for Perpetual Peace. In his book he suggested that to achieve peace it was necessary to create a "federation of free states" in Europe.
Immanuel Kant, who is regarded as one of the great figures in the history of philosophy, died in 1804.