You are cordially invited to an online presentation of the book Peace and War Over Königsberg by Gerfried Horst (Peace and War over Königsberg: Great Britain and the Destiny of Immanuel Kant’s Hometown: Amazon.co.uk: Horst, Gerfried: 9798328405393: Books) on 29th August (Thursday) at 20:00 CET (Berlin time), corresponding to 19:00 GMT (British time), 21:00 (Moscow time), and 14:00 (New York time).
No registration is required.
To take part in the meeting it is sufficient to follow the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89988630295
Meeting-ID: 899 8863 0295
29th August 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Königsberg. About 6,000 civilians – mostly women, children, and old people – died in the firestorm. The historic centre of Kant’s hometown where he had spent almost his entire life was annihilated.
Kant and Königsberg are inseparable, as explained by J H W Stuckenberg in his biography The Life of Immanuel Kant (London 1882):
Immanuel Kant is so identified with Königsberg that a sketch of this city is essential to a correct knowledge of the life of her most famous son. Here he was born and educated, here he taught and died; and this city, with its immediate vicinity, was the scene of all his labours, hardships, and triumphs. Its social, religious, and intellectual condition exerted a potent influence on his character and views; but he, on the other hand, gave the city a fame such as it had never before enjoyed, and has for ever associated its name with one of the most important epochs in philosophy, so that for his sake it was called “The Capital of Philosophy,” and also “The City of Pure Reason.” (End of quote)
Since Immanuel Kant is so identified with Königsberg, does this identification also include Königsberg’s downfall? If so, what does this mean? In 1795 Kant published in Königsberg his treatise Toward Perpetual Peace. 2024 is the year of the 300th anniversary of Immanuel Kant‘s birthday on 22nd April 1724 which has been celebrated throughout the world, and the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Kant’s hometown. Can we speak of Kant’s philosophy and ignore the destiny of his hometown where he wrote all his works? What is Kant’s and Königsberg’s legacy to us?
We look forward to your participation in our online event. Please note that it will be held in English. Any contributions to the discussion in German will be translated.Please access the Zoom meeting within a time slot of 15 minutes prior to its beginning.
For any technical questions, please contact our Zoom host Hannes Wiesel (info@freunde-kants.com).
Please note that we intend to record the Zoom meeting and possibly display the recording on our website www.freunde-kants.com. If you don’t wish your contribution to be recorded, please inform Hannes Wiesel accordingly.
