Immanuel Kant

Idea for a Universal History with Cosmopolitan Intent

Analysis by David Freer

According to Kant, historians need to search for objective truths in history based on

rationality. Above all else, human actions are inseparable from nature; it is up to the

historian to find the underlying themes as Newton or Kepler did with the physical world.

But history involves judgment calls such as how we, as a species, evaluate our place in

the world. His purpose was to analyze the possibility of a Universal History apart from

the whims of political or cultural leaders. Kant divides his argument into nine principles,

which I will consider in order.

The first principle may be summarized that natural occurrences will terminate when they

reach their ‘end’ although it is not always clear what that may be. Since human beings

are part of nature we must examine history according to such natural laws.

The second principle assumes that humans are the only rational creatures. Is not the

horse that chooses more food to less not behaving rationally? People, however, seem to

be the only creatures to transmit culture and their history. Kant proposes that an

individual has a pitiful life but their life is building toward something greater. Human

reason is needed to evaluate history.

Thirdly, Kant extends the importance of transcending instinct. Humankind must

overcome the weaknesses Nature provided. People work for later generations; the fruits
of their labors are not always reaped in their lifetimes. Perhaps our current state of affairs

in America contradicts Kant’s belief: infrastructure is built second-rate and the debt will

be passed on for generations. Again he emphasizes despite humanity’s creations people

are still part of the natural world.

Fourthly Kant examines the causes of law and order in society in the face of human

qualities such as indolence and aggression. However, Kant believes it was these qualities

that caused people to create societies based on law and order. The putative ‘flaws’ in

man’s design necessitate the creation of society, once again according to the laws of

nature: “Man wants concord but nature knows better what is good of his kind; nature

wants discord.” Perhaps a specific example corroborating Kant’s thesis would be that

twentieth century warfare seemingly accelerated technological advancements and the

brought about the first steps toward the creation of a world governing body. Humanity

progresses through conflict.

This progression hinges on the ability to create a society based on just laws. Society

must offer mankind “great freedoms” under a “just civic constitution.” Each individual

member of society will grow and develop in harmony with society. This, Kant deduces,

must be nature’s plan for humankind.

The sixth principle lays out the reasons for the need for rulers in human society. Kant

explains that mankind has great trouble in finding a leader among men: “One cannot

fashion something absolutely straight from wood that is as crooked as that of which man
is made.” In a footnote Kant speculates that alien life forms may be more advanced in

their rule of law and find their purpose within their lifetimes.

In the next point, Kant decries the wastefulness of wars and promotes the idea of a “great

union of nations.” Perhaps the United Nations and international trials for war criminals is

an example of such an ideal being fulfilled in reality.

The eighth principle relates the importance of the historian to this progression. “Human

nature has this aspect that it cannot be indifferent to even the most remote epoch”…Kant

derides leaders who lack funds for education but generously fund wars. He predicts

warfare will become “a very dubious enterprise.”

Lastly, Kant contends that the writing of a philosophical history of the world is part of

nature’s plan. Historians are the eyes and ears of the natural process that contains

humanity. The last line of Kant’s analysis warns against over-ambitious rulers and their

attempts to spread propaganda. The philosophical approach to history stresses a thematic

approach rather than a overly detailed examination. Such an approach would improve

humanity’s chances of living in harmony with nature and fulfilling our eventual destiny

through rational examination.

Kant seems to be searching for some underlying importance to the wars and lawlessness

which seemingly plague mankind. Such disturbances create the need for a civil society

based on laws. Instead of promoting a cultural, subjective approach to history, Kant

wants to discover objective truths or a universal history which relates humanity to natural

history. Thus seemingly unrelated events lead to the eventual realization of humankind’s

destiny. More people do live under a constitution. More people attend universities.

However, the idea that war would become obsolete is an idea whose time has not come;

perhaps we can hope to learn some lesson from the chaos. Thus to Kant, historians act as

the interpreters of nature’s still unfinished plan for humankind, not merely as

mouthpieces for the current ruling elite.