Publishers' Preface

KANT'S Prolegomena,¹ although a small book, is indubitably the most important of his writings. It furnishes us with a key to his main work, The Critique of Pure Reason; in fact, it is an extract containing all the salient ideas of Kant's system. It approaches the subject in the simplest and most direct way, and is therefore best adapted as an introduction into his philosophy. For this reason, The Open Court Publishing Company has deemed it advisable to bring out a new edition of the work, keeping in view its broader use as a preliminary survey and explanation of Kant's philosophy in general. In order to make the book useful for this broader purpose, the editor has not only stated his own views concerning the problem underlying the Prolegomena (see page 167 et seq.), but has also collected the most important materials which have reference to Kant's philosophy, or to the reception which was accorded to it in various quarters (see page 241 et seq.). The selections have not been made from a partisan standpoint, but have been chosen with a view to characterising the attitude of different minds, and to directing the student to the best literature on the subject.

Kant's Prolegomena,¹ though a small book, is undoubtedly the most important of his writings. It provides a key to his main work, The Critique of Pure Reason. In fact, it is a summary containing all the main ideas of Kant's system. It approaches the subject in the simplest and most direct way. It is therefore the best introduction to his philosophy. For this reason, The Open Court Publishing Company has decided to publish a new edition. The publisher intends it for broader use as an initial survey and explanation of Kant's philosophy in general. To make the book useful for this broader purpose, the editor has included his own views on the problem underlying the Prolegomena (see page 167 and following). He has also collected the most important materials relating to Kant's philosophy or its reception in various quarters (see page 241 and following). The selections were not made from a partisan standpoint. Instead, they were chosen to show the attitudes of different thinkers and to direct the student to the best literature on the subject.

It is not without good reasons that the appearance of the Critique of Pure Reason is regarded as the beginning of a new era in the history of philosophy; and so it seems that a comprehension of Kant's position, whether we accept or reject it, is indispensable to the student of philosophy. It is not his solution which makes the sage of Königsberg the initiator of modern thought, but his formulation of the problem.

There are good reasons to regard the publication of the Critique of Pure Reason as the beginning of a new era in philosophy. So it seems essential for students of philosophy to understand Kant's position, whether they accept or reject it. What makes the sage of Königsberg the founder of modern thought is not his solution, but how he framed the problem.

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The present translation is practically new, but it goes without saying that the editor utilised the labors of his predecessors, among whom Prof. John P. Mahaffy and John H. Bernard deserve special credit. Richardson's translation of 1818 may be regarded as superseded and has not been consulted, but occasional reference has been made to that of Prof. Ernest Belfort Bax. Considering the difficulties under which even these translators labored we must recognise the fact that they did their work well, with painstaking diligence, great love of the subject, and good judgment. The editor of the present translation has the advantage of being to the manor born; moreover, he is pretty well versed in Kant's style; and wherever he differs from his predecessors in the interpretation of a construction, he has deviated from them not without good reasons. Nevertheless there are some passages which will still remain doubtful, though happily they are of little consequence.

This translation is practically new, but the editor has naturally made use of earlier translators’ work. Prof. John P. Mahaffy and John H. Bernard deserve special credit among them. Richardson’s 1818 translation may be considered outdated and has not been consulted. But the editor has occasionally referred to Prof. Ernest Belfort Bax’s translation. Given the difficulties these translators faced, we must acknowledge that they worked well. They showed painstaking care, great love for the subject, and good judgment. The editor of this translation has the advantage of being a native speaker. He is also quite familiar with Kant’s style. Wherever he interprets a construction differently from his predecessors, he has good reasons for doing so. Nevertheless, some passages remain doubtful, though fortunately they are of little consequence.

As a curiosum in Richardson's translation Professor Mahaffy mentions that the words widersinnig gewundene Schnecken, which simply means "symmetric helices,"² are rendered by "snails rolled up contrary to all sense"—a wording that is itself contrary to all sense and makes the whole paragraph unintelligible. We may add an instance of another mistake that misses the mark. Kant employs in the Appendix a word that is no longer used in German. He speaks of the Cento der Metaphysik as having neue Lappen and einen veränderten Zuschnitt. Mr. Bax translates Cento by "body," Lappen by "outgrowths," and Zuschnitt by "figure." His mistake is perhaps not less excusable than Richardson's; it is certainly not less comical, and it also destroys the sense, which in the present case is a very striking simile. Cento is a Latin word³ derived from the Greek κεντρων,⁴ meaning "a garment of many patches sewed together," or, as we might now say, "a crazy quilt."

Professor Mahaffy notes a curiosity in Richardson's translation. The words widersinnig gewundene Schnecken simply mean "symmetric helices."² But Richardson translates them as "snails rolled up contrary to all sense." This wording is itself contrary to all sense and makes the whole paragraph unintelligible. We may add another example of a mistaken translation that misses the mark. In the Appendix, Kant uses a word that is no longer used in German. He describes the Cento der Metaphysik as having neue Lappen and einen veränderten Zuschnitt. Mr. Bax translates Cento as "body," Lappen as "outgrowths," and Zuschnitt as "figure." His mistake is perhaps no less excusable than Richardson's. It is certainly no less comical, and it also destroys the meaning. In this case, the meaning is a very striking comparison. Cento is a Latin word³ derived from the Greek κεντρων.⁴ It means "a garment of many patches sewed together," or, as we might now say, "a crazy quilt."

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In the hope that this book will prove useful, The Open Court Publishing Company offers it as a help to the student of philosophy.

The Open Court Publishing Company offers this book to help students of philosophy, in the hope that they will find it useful.

P.C.

P.C.