A Kant Dictionary

Book excerpt: In this new lexical survey Howard Caygill presents Kantian concepts and terminology in terms that will introduce and clarify his ideas for students and general readers alike. The book takes as its starting point the historical nature of philosophical language, and shows how Kant set about redefining certain key concepts and terms. It then shows the profound effect that Kant’s interpretation of the philosophical tradition continues to have upon contemporary philosophical debates. In addition to his reconstruction of Kant’s philosophical vocabulary, Howard Caygill presents a contextual essay on Kant and his place in ‘the age of criticism’. The book has extensive cross-references, and offers valuable scholarly aids in an appendix of philosophers, bibliographies of Kant’s work and secondary sources, and a comprehensive index. Each Blackwell Philosopher Dictionary presents the life and work of an individual philosopher in a scholarly yet accessible manner. Entries cover key ideas and thoughts, as well as the main themes of the philosopher’s works. A comprehensive biographical sketch is also included.