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THE CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON
by Immanuel Kant
translated by J。 M。 D。 Meiklejohn
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION； 1781
Human reason； in one sphere of its cognition； is called upon to
consider questions； which it cannot decline； as they are presented
by its own nature； but which it cannot answer； as they transcend every
faculty of the mind。
It falls into this difficulty without any fault of its own。 It
begins with principles； which cannot be dispensed with in the field of
experience； and the truth and sufficiency of which are； at the same
time； insured by experience。 With these principles it rises； in
obedience to the laws of its own nature； to ever higher and more
remote conditions。 But it quickly discovers that； in this way； its
labours must remain ever inplete； because new questions never cease
to present themselves； and thus it finds itself pelled to have
recourse to principles which transcend the region of experience； while
they are regarded by mon sense without distrust。 It thus falls into
confusion and contradictions； from which it conjectures the presence
of latent errors； which； however； it is unable to discover； because
the principles it employs； transcending the limits of experience；
cannot be tested by that criterion。 The arena of these endless
contests is called Metaphysic。
Time was； when she was the queen of all the sciences； and； if we
take the will for the deed； she certainly deserves； so far as
regards the high importance of her object…matter； this title of
honour。 Now； it is the fashion of the time to heap contempt and
scorn upon her； and the matron mourns； forlorn and forsaken； like
Hecuba：
Modo maxima rerum；
Tot generis； natisque potens。。。
Nunc trahor exul； inops。*
*Ovid； Metamorphoses。 ＇xiii； 〃But late on the pinnacle of fame；
strong in my many sons。 now exiled； penniless。〃＇
At first； her government； under the administration of the
dogmatists； was an absolute despotism。 But； as the legislative
continued to show traces of the ancient barbaric rule； her empire
gradually broke up； and intestine wars introduced the reign of
anarchy； while the sceptics； like nomadic tribes； who hate a permanent
habitation and settled mode of living； attacked from time to time
those who had organized themselves into civil munities。 But their
number was； very happily； small； and thus they could not entirely
put a stop to the exertions of those who persisted in raising new
edifices； although on no settled or uniform plan。 In recent times
the hope dawned upon us of seeing those disputes settled； and the
legitimacy of her claims established by a kind of physiology of the
human understanding… that of the celebrated Locke。 But it was found
that… although it was affirmed that this so…called queen could not
refer her descent to any higher source than that of mon experience；
a circumstance which necessarily brought suspicion on her claims… as
this genealogy was incorrect； she persisted in the advancement of
her claims to sovereignty。 Thus metaphysics necessarily fell back into
the antiquated and rotten constitution of dogmatism； and again
became obnoxious to the contempt from which efforts had been made to
save it。 At present； as all methods； according to the general
persuasion； have been tried in vain； there reigns nought but weariness
and plete indifferentism… the mother of chaos and night in the
scientific world； but at the same time the source of； or at least
the prelude to； the re…creation and reinstallation of a science；
when it has fallen into confusion； obscurity； and disuse from ill
directed effort。
For it is in reality vain to profess indifference in regard to
such inquiries； the object of which cannot be indifferent to humanity。
Besides； these pretended indifferentists； however much they may try to
disguise themselves by the assumption of a popular style and by
changes on the language of the schools； unavoidably fall into
metaphysical declarations and propositions； which they profess to
regard with so much contempt。 At the same time； this indifference；
which has arisen in the world of science； and which relates to that
kind of knowledge which we should wish to see destroyed the last； is a
phenomenon that well deserves our attention and reflection。 It is
plainly not the effect of the levity； but of the matured judgement* of
the age； which refuses to be any longer entertained with illusory
knowledge； It is； in fact； a call to reason； again to undertake the
most laborious of all tasks… that of self…examination… and to
establish a tribunal； which may secure it in its well…grounded claims；
while it pronounces against all baseless assumptions and
pretensions； not in an arbitrary manner； but according to its own
eternal and unchangeable laws。 This tribunal is nothing less than
the critical investigation of pure reason。
*We very often hear plaints of the shallowness of the present
age； and of the decay of profound science。 But I do not think that
those which rest upon a secure foundation； such as mathematics；
physical science； etc。； in the least deserve this reproach； but that
they rather maintain their ancient fame； and in the latter case；
indeed； far surpass it。 The same would be the case with the other
kinds of cognition； if their principles were but firmly established。
In the absence of this security； indifference； doubt； and finally；
severe criticism are rather signs of a profound habit of thought。
Our age is the age of criticism； to which everything must be
subjected。 The sacredness of religion； and the authority of
legislation； are by many regarded as grounds of exemption from the
examination of this tribunal。 But； if they on they are exempted；
they bee the subjects of just suspicion； and cannot lay claim to
sincere respect； which reason accords only to that which has stood the
test of a free and public examination。
I do not mean by this a criticism of books and systems； but a
critical inquiry into the faculty of reason； with reference to the
cognitions to which it stri